Before I say another word – Isondu is the absolute best barbacuá brand I’ve ever had so far. There. It’s off my chest. Now let me explain.

First, to tell you the truth, I’ve been a little traumatized by barbacuá brands.

In the past, I’ve had La Merced Barbacuá, Sol Y Lluvia, Origen, and Flor De Lis. Not to say any of these were bad, but some of them had this sour/astringent component that’s likely from the barbacuá method, and I just couldn’t come to like it. From that point on, any time I had to review a barbacuá brand, I expected a sourness to take over my palate.

Luckily, Isondú doesn’t follow in their footsteps.

Isondú, which translates to little bug of light in Guarani, is special. This brand comes out of the Misiones region and is naturally aged for 24 months, and of course, smoked using the traditional barbacuá method.

With lots of work and attention given to this mate, let’s see what she’s all about…

Nose

After opening this beautiful artsy packaging, I immediately get blasted with sweet notes of strawberry jam and sugary pastries mixed with dry hay and cigars. As far as smokiness, there’s just a slight hint of firewood but it’s mostly overshadowed by the sweeter notes. Overall, this mate smells deliciously pleasant.

Taste

After my first sip of Isondú, I already knew for a fact that this was going to be a winner. It’s not always the case for a mate to be almost 100% unique from the rest, but this is one of them.

Isondú deviates from your typical notes of earth, grass, and soil. From the start, this mate puts the meaning back into barbacuá as it shows off this strong yet smooth note of burning hickory and sweet applewood – a smoky taste I’ve never experienced with any other brand. This literally feels like you’re sitting by a fire pit all night long.

And on top of this, as you keep sipping, Isondú gradually transitions into this smoky bacon flavor with subtle hints of prunes and florals. I wish there was a brand I could compare this to, but there isn’t. This smokiness is nothing like the smokiness in brands like Taragui, La Rubia, or Canarias. It’s more like the smoked black tea – lapsang souchong – except ten times stronger.

I found this mate to taste best in lower temperatures of around 140ºF (60ºC). This lower temperature allows the sweet smokiness to really shine. Higher temps are fine too but can take out the smoky wood flavor of the mate and bring out its earthiness more.

Finish

On the finish, Isondú keeps up the pace by leaving behind a mild hickory wood and bacon taste. Fading away within seconds, you’re then left with a slightly sour note but nothing overwhelming. The finish only lasts for about 20 seconds which I like as it keeps me wanting more.

Body/Texture

Isondú is a medium-to-full-bodied mate. You can instantly feel its creamy and grainy texture from the first sip. It also feels syrupy to the point that even after you swallow, it feels like there’s still something to chew on. However, after about 5 refills, it tempers down and becomes silky smooth on the palate. And the best part? There’s no strong astringent sensation or dry-mouth feeling, which is a big plus especially considering this is a barbacuá brand.

Cut

Isondú features a leaf-dominant Argentine cut. The leaves are mostly fine-cut with a handful of large ones floating on top of them. Looking in the bag, you can see the barbacuá method did its job by giving the yerba a nice rustic shade of brown and tan. Short and stumpy white palos are sprinkled throughout the cut, but most of them are pulverized and blend in with the smaller leaves. When it comes to dust, Isondú definitely contains an above-average amount for an Argentine brand.

Preparing the mate leaves your palm with a heavy imprint of powder. But the dust helps a lot in keeping the mountain of mate upright. Because this is composed of mostly small particles, you might want to go with a good spoon bombilla to prevent clogging.

Cycle

Just when I thought this brand couldn’t get any better, Isondú also features a medium cycle. With a medium-sized gourd like the one pictured here, I can easily finish close to 1 liter. Its initial strength also holds up about half a liter before mellowing out. Quite impressive if you ask me! From there, the rest of the mate is mild and sweet.

Effect

When it comes to effect, Isondú is more relaxing than energizing.

The effects can be felt instantly and gradually rise until you hit a peak. But it never takes you over the top. I’ve never felt anxious or jittery drinking this mate. Instead, feelings of calm mixed with intense focus and a floaty-head sensation wash over my mind and body just after a few gourdfuls. My senses are also heightened. Colors look more vibrant and sounds feel more crisp. Isondú is a perfect mate for unwinding and for light activities like reading and writing.

I’d recommend drinking this in the morning or early afternoon. Later than that and it can probably cause issues with sleep.

Isondu Barbacua Yerba Mate Review

Isondú is a solid mate.

Again, this is the best barbacuá brand I’ve tasted so far. And what’s better is it doesn’t taste like all the other ones either.

This actually tastes like it was laying over a fire for hours until it was fully infused with woody smoke, then aged to perfection until all the flavors are smoothed and mellowed out.

All in all, this mate is exceptionally well made. For me, Isondú is close to perfect.

Delicious, flavorful, unique, and long-lasting, I have absolutely zero complaints. This has easily earned a high spot in my top favorite brands. Beginners may want to proceed with caution, but advanced drinkers, you have a lovely experience waiting for you.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, visit one of the links below to get a bag now!

PampaDirect (Worldwide)
Click Here To Get A 500g / 1lb Bag

Un-Mate (Europe – 10% OFF Order)
Click Here To Get A 500g / 1.1lb Bag

P.S. If you enjoyed this review, check out our store for some beautiful mate gourds and bombillas.