Over the years, I’ve tried and reviewed over 40+ brands on this site. Although each individual brand tastes different from the next (whether entirely or partially), only a handful ever stuck out to me. And even fewer had a unique and distinct flavor profile.

At this point, I feel like I tasted it all…

All the different strengths, notes, flavors, etc.

I thought I’d never find another brand that tasted drastically different from the rest, but once I tried Tucanguá, I was proven wrong.

Under its innocent toucan packaging is a world of flavor. If you’re into mild and complex mates, then you don’t want to miss out on this brand.

In this review, you’ll quickly learn why as I go over how it tastes, smells, looks, and more.

Let’s begin!

Nose

To the nose, Tucanguá has a lovely aroma similar to most brands I’ve had in the past. When smelling the bag, I get notes of whole wheat bread with some fruity berry tones and a citrus-pepper kick.

Taste

After my first sip of Tucanguá, all I could think was, This is different. And it really is and in the best way possible. When drinking mate, most of the time you expect to taste strong grassy, earthy, soil notes. But to my surprise, that’s all toned down in this brand and I love it.

Instead, right off the bat, Tucanguá boasts this tangy sourness that tastes exactly like plums. And this delicious fruity note lasts throughout most of the mate. As I keep drinking, I’m quickly introduced to a lovely floral note along with a nice woodiness and sweet tobacco flavor. Some earth and soil pop up here and there but play a secondary role. Reaching into the second half, the mate’s sourness slowly transforms into a lemon citrus note. And the taste of plum takes a back seat while its floralness steps up. Overall, Tucanguá is flavorful and easy on the palate with no smoky or harsh tones.

I found this mate to do best in temperatures of around 150ºF (60ºC), not too tangy and not too weak.

Finish

With such a complex flavor profile, Tucanguá surprisingly leaves close to nothing on the finish. All the notes you tasted previously completely disappear. The only thing that’s left is a bit of astringency. You can feel the contractions in your mouth, but it’s not overpowering. Overall, your palate feels more hydrated than anything.

Body/Texture

Tucanguá is a light-bodied mate. It’s surprisingly smooth all throughout with no rough edges. Gentle and mild, when sipping this mate, you won’t experience any harsh or sharp characteristics. The texture is watery and it also doesn’t have that super dry-mouth feeling – which I’m happy about. All in all, it’s like drinking a teabag.

Cut

Tucanguá features an Argentine cut. The leaves are full and broad-cut with some almost as long as a centimeter, and come in varying shades of green and brown. Plenty of palos are also thrown into the mix too, which explains this mate’s soft flavor. They vary widely in size from short and stumpy to long and thin. Some stems can be as long as 2 inches like the one you see above, and some even have a purple hue to them. Dust content is below average. No clouds of dust come out, but there’s just enough to leave a faint imprint on your palm when preparing.

Because of this mate’s rough cut and large particles, you should have no problems with filtration. Any bombilla should work. The mountain of mate also holds up nicely.

Cycle

Tucanguá features a long cycle which I’m very pleased with. That’s just what this mate needed to make it an excellent mate and it truly lasts a long time. It’s not until I finish about 1/2 a liter do I start to notice a noticeable decrease in strength. From that point on, the mate slowly dies down. In total, I need an entire liter (sometimes more) to finish this mate.

Effect

Tucanguá isn’t anything special when it comes to effects. I actually think it’s a bit on the weaker side. But I’m not complaining.

With other brands, I can usually physically and mentally feel a difference upon the first sip, but not with this one. When I drink this mate, effects take place gradually and creep up on me. I don’t notice myself being hyper-focused… until I do. Tucanguá also leans more on the relaxing side than energetic. I feel more creative and clear-minded than usual as well. But never do I feel overstimulated or jittery. This mate keeps you in perfect balance.

I’d recommend it as an all-day mate. If you’re looking for a brand that’s good for unwinding and slowing down, Tucanguá fits the bill. But not if you’re looking to get a boost for physical activity.

Tucangua Yerba Mate Review

Tucanguá is one of those brands that don’t really stand out at first glance (at least for me), but really surprise you once you try it.

I have nothing bad to say about this mate.

It’s perfect in every way…

Complex notes, smooth, easy to prepare, and lasts a long time.

Every time I prepare myself a gourd of this mate, I’m always on my toes as I never know exactly what it’s going to taste like. It’s always different to a small degree.

No matter whether you’re a beginner or experienced matero, Tucanguá will satisfy both palates. For beginners, with its smoothness and non-bitter taste. And for veterans, with its complexity and unique notes.

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

PampaDirect (Worldwide)
Click Here To Get A 500g / 1lb Bag
Click Here To Get A 1000g / 1kg 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 want to check out our store for the best yerba mate gear ever.