If you’ve been looking for a strong and delicious yerba mate brand you can rely on, this is going to be the one for you…

Origen is a smoked Argentinian brand but with a comforting homey taste.

One that makes you sink back in your seat and focus all your attention back to the present moment.

I’ve been drinking this almost every day for the past 3 weeks and I can safely say I’ve enjoyed it each time. It features a dark flavor profile with sweet and slightly smokey nuances which create a great balanced mate.

If that sounds like something you’ll enjoy, you’re in for a treat.

Today, we’re going to dive deep into how this brand smells, tastes, looks, feels, and more.

Ready?

Nose

After carefully opening up the bag and giving it a good shake, my nose is blasted with a pungent aroma of dry grass, hay, toasted bread, and a slight hint of smoke. There’s nothing extraordinary here. Just a classic aroma of yerba mate.

Taste

Seeing this yerba come in a lovely forest green packaging makes me think to prepare for a deep earthy taste. And I was somewhat correct.

Origen jumps out the gate with strong, yet smooth palatable flavors. Syrupy notes of wood, florals, and rich wet soil burst through with elegance taking you back to the old barnyard. Then, as you refill a few more times, soft undertones of toffee, chocolate, and crisp apples start to shine and entice your palate for more. Despite this yerba being smoked using the traditional barbacua method, it’s not harsh at all. However, this could just be my palate. For me, the most I get is this slightly charred/bitter element to the mate, but it disappears within half-way of drinking.

All in all, Origen keeps things tamed and all under control. Nothing overpowers the other. Each note works in perfect harmony, creating a decadently rich and pleasant experience with no rough edges. If you enjoy brands such as Pipore, and even Canarias, Origen is another one to add to the list. It maintains the characteristics of a classic Argentine mate but has the complexity and depth of Uruguayan mate.

I found Origen to be most enjoyable at around 150ºF (65ºC), but anything else will also taste great. Use lower temps to help tamper down the smokiness if that’s not your taste, and use higher temps to bring more of it out.

Finish

On the finish, Origen doesn’t have a lot to offer. The finish is crisp, clean, and disappears fairly quickly. Previous notes of soil and wood are brought along in addition to a light sourness and lasting bitterness on the back of the tongue. The finish isn’t strong but it does last for a good amount of time.

Body/Texture

Origen is a light-to-medium bodied mate. The first few refills bring on a grainy/chalky texture that gives you a bit to chew on, while the rest of the gourd’s lifespan remains light and smooth. Unlike most brands, Origen doesn’t produce a strong dry-mouth feeling which is nice because, personally, I can’t stand that astringent texture.

Cut

Origen features a classic Argentine cut. With broad medium-sized leaves, plenty of stems, and a below-average amount of dust, anyone familiar with yerba mate will know this is from Argentina. The leaves boast a variety of colors ranging from shades of green, yellow, and brown, displaying the beautiful smoking and aging process it went through. Palos are mostly white and stumpy with a few splinter-sized that are smoked to a complete black color.

With regards to preparation, you shouldn’t run into any issues. The particles are large enough to prevent being sucked up. And there’s just enough dust to hold the mountain of mate together. Any bombilla will do just fine.

Cycle

Surprisingly, Origen holds things down with a long cycle. You can expect to use at least 1 liter with an average-sized gourd before it loses all flavor. Unfortunately though, this mate starts off with a strong punch that instantly transitions down into a sweet and mild brew. At some point, you’ll experience one gourd that tastes full of flavor but the next like a tea-bag. It’s as if someone magically switched what was in your gourd without you knowing it.

Effect

When it comes to effect, Origen is like any other brand.

You can expect the usual enhanced focus, concentration, and creativity that’s balanced out with a calm mind and floaty head feel. But what’s slightly unique about this brand is it’s more relaxing than energizing. By that I mean I notice my breathing slows down right along with my thoughts. I never feel racy or overstimulated. Quite the opposite. Which makes this a great mate for things such as reading, writing, journaling, and for whenever you want to feel more relaxed.

However, I’d still recommend this as a morning/afternoon mate. Despite being relaxing, it’s not the type of relaxation you’re expecting to put you to bed.

Origen Yerba Mate Review

If you want an Argentine mate but with some more complexity, this will definitely be the yerba for you.

Based off taste alone, you can tell these leaves have gone through a long process.

The mate’s smoothness and soft flavors showcase its aging while the charred meat taste displays its smoking method.

Origen is that mate you want to drink when you’re getting bored of typical Argentinian brands. The flavor profile on this is far from simple or boring. Each sip, as well as each gourd, offers you a new experience to enjoy.

If you want to jump in and give this a try yourself, click the link below now!

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

P.S. If you enjoyed this review, you may also want to check out our store for exclusive mate equipment.