.After trying both the original Rosamonte along with Rosamonte Especial, I thought it was about time I reviewed its cousin – Rosamonte Despalada.

Now I gotta be honest with you…

I’m not the biggest fan of despalada/sin palo/pure leaf versions of mate.

In the past, I’ve had Taragui Sin Palo and Pipore Sin Palo, but neither of them wowed me. They both had similar characteristics in taste which may explain why. And unfortunately, Rosamonte Despalada is no different.

But don’t fret…

There’s still something very unique about this mate that’s made me fall in love with it, and you’re about to find out what that is in today’s review.

Let’s begin!

Nose

After carefully opening the packaging (I usually have a hard time with this type of bag, I don’t know why), a sweet aroma lifts into the air filled with notes of cereal and jam. I also get a bready/oaty note underneath it all, along with just a touch of smoke. Overall, it has a rich and pleasant nose.

Taste

When it comes to taste, Rosamonte Despalada covers nearly all aspects. You won’t notice many note changes as you continue drinking, but within each sip is the same rainbow of flavors. Like most mates, this also has an earthiness that plays a good supporting role. While at the forefront, a floral sweetness coupled with light salty notes take over the palate. Similar to the other sin palo brands I’ve tried, there’s also a sour tobacco flavor that balances everything out. Then after reaching somewhere around the halfway point, delicate hints of wood enter the scene.

Overall, I think it’s stronger in flavor compared to the original Rosamonte, but smoother and friendlier in taste. I don’t get any sharp astringent tones. But I do get a very, very light hint of smoke, which I’m sure many beginners would be glad to know.

For the best results, I found low water temperatures of around 140ºF (60ºC) to work well. Any higher and it starts to bring out the astringency.

Finish

Rosamonte Despalada surprisingly has a clean finish. Typically with mates like this one, I’m expecting a strong astringency. But nope! The only noticeable notes are of grass and a faint sweetness. The finish lasts about 10-20 seconds, leaving your palate refreshed and ready for another sip.

Body/Texture

Rosamonte Despalada is a medium-bodied mate. A bit of weight can be felt on every sip. Especially the first few gourdfuls. It almost feels like drinking milk with its creamy, soft, and extra smooth texture. There’s no sharpness, bitterness, or harshness making every sip extremely pleasant.

Cut

Rosamonte Despalada is an Argentinian brand, but as the name suggests, with a pure-leaf cut (or at least that’s what it’s supposed to be). The leaves range in size from large to small. But there are some stems present in the bag, although they only take up around 5% of it. They also vary in size and thickness. A fair amount of dust can also be found which I like.

Usually, despalada blends are tough to prepare as the mountain of mate always slides down. But that doesn’t happen much with this one thanks to its dust content.

Cycle

Rosamonte Despalada has a medium-to-long cycle and can last me anywhere from 3/4 to a full liter which is expected with brands that are sin palo. The strength of the mate also stays strong to the end so you can enjoy every flavorful sip. The more noticeable change as you keep drinking is the loss of body as the mate becomes watery.

Effect

When it comes to effect, there’s nothing extraordinary with Rosamonte Despalada.

It has an above-average caffeine kick, but it never gets out of control. Enhanced focus and concentration happen almost instantly and then it’s just smooth sailing from there. The stimulation can be felt for hours before it gradually tapers off. Perfect for productive and creative activities like writing or as a pre-workout.

I recommend avoiding this mate at nighttime. Drink it in the morning or early afternoon to avoid it interfering with your sleep.

Rosamonte Despalada Review

It’s been a while since I’ve tried a mate that I know I want to buy over and over again. But Rosamonte Despalada is now one of them.

This mate has a smooth, rich, and classic taste with no harshness.

For beginners, it might be a tad strong. But for those already accustomed to yerba mate, I can’t imagine anyone saying they hate this mate.

Every morning I prepare myself a gourd of Rosamonte Despalada and take my first sip, I say that’s the stuff! in my head.

If you want to try this mate for yourself, just visit one of the links below now!

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

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

Un-Mate (Europe – 10% OFF Order)
Click Here To Get A 500g or 1000g Bag

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