I admit: I’ve been putting off this review. I’ve had a kilo bag of Mañanita sitting on my shelf for well over a year now.

I’ve tried it once in the past, and I never wanted to pick it back up. But today, I’m going to just for the sake of this review. Besides, I don’t want to have it sitting there any longer.

So below, you’re going to learn all about this mate.

What it tastes like, smells like, looks like, and a lot more.

Before we get into it though, I must clarify that the Mañanita I’m reviewing today is the BCP version. BCP means bajo contenido de polvo, or in other words, low dust content. I’m not sure whether Mañanita has a regular version, but as of right now there doesn’t seem to be.

Nose

To the nose, Mañanita instantly reminds me of the raisins I used to eat as a kid. Opening this bag of mate is like popping open those little SunMaid boxes. Taking a deeper whiff, I can also get some hints of black tea and soil. It’s a bit sour, sweet, and bitter all at the same time. A very pleasant aroma.

Taste

When I first tried Mañanita, I couldn’t stand it. It was one of the first times I thought, Wow, I actually hate this yerba. However, that was a while ago. Now, with a little more developed palate, some getting used to and experimentation, I’m coming to like it – a lot.

Mañanita has this solid soil and dirt note upfront that took me time to get used to, but it quickly dies down after a few refills. Then, as I start getting hints of bread, oats, and tobacco it all balances out perfectly. A floral and fruity note is also hidden in the background. It reminds me of the plum-like note in my last review of Tucangua. At times, a hint of dark chocolate tries to come into the picture, but is very faint. Towards the second half of this mate, everything starts to mellow out. Its strength becomes milder. And its taste can only be described as having a sawdust/wood shaving essence.

I found this mate to only taste good at low temperatures of 140-150ºF (60-66ºC). Any higher and the astringency goes overboard, making it hard to enjoy for me.

Finish

Mañanita finishes off weak. After swallowing, I get a bit of leftover floral notes and astringency. Not very strong at all and it only lasts a few seconds. From there, my palate feels cleansed and ready for another sip. However, the more I keep drinking it, the stronger this bitter taste gets in the back of my tongue. If you decide to brew this mate at a higher temperature, this finish will be much more pronounced. So depending on how you like it, keep this in mind.

Body/Texture

Mañanita is a light-to-medium bodied mate. The first few refills contain a soft, creamy texture that I love. But as I continue sipping, Mañanita gradually becomes more and more astringent and watery. I get that dry-mouth sensation very fast. Luckily, it’s not too pronounced and a quick drink of water washes it away. But when brewed at hot temperatures, it can be too much.

Cut

Mañanita features an Argentine-style cut that really surprised me. Remember, this bag of yerba is BCP, meaning it’s low in dust content. However, this yerba is far from that.

I was expecting the polvo to be something more like Suave brands. But in reality, based on the clouds of dust flying out the bag when shaken, it’s one of the most dust-filled Argentinian brands I’ve come across. I don’t know if it’s just my bag or it’s how this yerba actually is, but putting BCP in the name is quite misleading. Especially when there’s enough dust to form a thick imprint on my palm whenever I prepare myself a gourd. But I’m not complaining as it helps keep the mountain of mate from falling.

As far as the rest go, the leaves are mostly small-to-medium-sized. Some are also finely pulverized. The leaves have a nice mixture of color ranging from a faded green to olive green to even a brown-yellow. There’s also a good amount of palos in the bag of varying lengths and widths. Some are splinter-shaped while others are full-sized.

Cycle

Mañanita has a medium-to-long cycle. This mate seems to never lose its strength even after tens of refills. It keeps giving and giving. After around 1/2 a liter, then this yerba starts to noticeably die down. With Mañanita, I can easily finish about 3/4 to 1 full liter which is the sweet spot for me. Not too short, not too long.

Effect

Although most yerba mate brands are very similar in effect, I found Mañanita to be not as stimulating.

I can’t tell you why that is, but whenever I drink this mate, I don’t have that energy-ball-like feeling pulsating through my head as I do with others. Don’t get me wrong, I still feel extra focused and productive, but I just don’t physically feel it. To some, this might be what you’re looking for. But personally, I like feeling the yerba going to work. Mañanita also gives me more of a body high. The sensations aren’t felt in my head but in my body. I can feel my muscles relaxing and my body less tense.

I like to drink this no later than the afternoon. It’s good for unwinding and less taxing activities such as reading and writing.

Mananita Yerba Mate Review

Mañanita was the only brand I ever had to get used to (despite the brands I drank when I first started). And let me tell you, it was well worth the time and effort.

If I hadn’t kept drinking this mate, I’d tell you not to never buy this. And I’d say it’s one of the worst mates I’ve ever had.

But not anymore.

After finishing a full kilo of Mañanita, it has slowly but surely become a great-tasting mate.

My only complaint is its astringency. But other than that, it’s complex enough to keep me interested, tastes great, and lasts a good amount of time.

If Mañanita sounds like a brand perfect for your taste-buds, visit one of the links below to try it now!

Amazon (US | UK | CA | ES | DE | FR)
Click Here To Get A 1000g / 1kg Bag
Click Here To Get A 2-Pack 1kg Bag

PampaDirect (Worldwide)
Click Here To Get A 500g / 1.1lb Bag
Click Here To Get A 1000g / 1kg Bag

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

P.S. If you enjoyed our review, you might also want to check out our store to upgrade your yerba mate gear.