INATO PREMIUM Yerba Mate | Special Grade | Organic | Rainforest Grown | Leaf Only | Shade Grown | Air Dried | Single Producer | NO Sticks | NO Dust | Green Energy Boost (38 Servings)

I paid full price for this product on Amazon.com and am posting this review out of my genuine appreciation for its quality.I began drinking yerba mate about three months ago as a result of my search for a healthier substitute for energy drinks. I recently finished drinking through a 1 lb bag of loose leaf traditional Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate (over the course of a couple months). Guayaki was the first mate I had ever tried. As expected, it was an acquired taste, and even as I developed a taste for it, I still didn't care much for the smoky undertones of the tea. I continued to research yerba mate and discovered that mate is traditionally dried over a fire, which results in the smoky undertones I didn't care for. Further research revealed that some studies have associated heavy yerba mate drinking with certain types of cancer. Before you panic and swear off the drink forever - remember that correlation does not equal causation. The studies do not give a cause for the cancer, and some of those studies theorize that this association may be due to the traditional method by which mate is dried. Smoke contains carcinogens, and common sense tells me (and hopefully other people) that drinking known carcinogens in your tea on a daily basis probably isn't good for you in the long term. These smoke-based carcinogens are the same reason science has told us to go easy on grilled meats.Armed with this knowledge, I set out to find a yerba mate that was: 1) air dried rather than smoke dried; and 2) contained leaves only (mate often comes in two forms - with or without stems). Guayaki makes a loose leaf mate that is air dried, but it contains stems. I wanted nothing but leafy goodness in my tea, so I kept looking and eventually found this product. It costs more than Guayaki, but you will notice the difference immediately when you open the packaging. The tea leaves are air dried, not aged (as many mates are), and are vacuum sealed to maintain freshness. I was shocked when I first saw this loose leaf mate in person. The leaves were incredibly green and fresh-looking - not the brownish old mate leaves I was used to seeing. I brewed my first cup with a fine tea strainer and was very impressed with this mate's refreshing flavor. It's markedly lighter and fresher tasting than Guayaki's traditional mate and doesn't have a smoky undertone. To me, it tastes as if someone walked out of a rain forest in Brazil with a handful of fresh yerba mate leaves and made you a cup of tea. After drinking this mate, I can finally appreciate why the drink is so popular in South America. It truly is delicious and provides a nice even energy boost. I've also found that drinking mate helps a ton with my allergies, which is another alleged benefit that I was skeptical of but actually found to be true. Inato Premium Organic Yerba Mate is an excellent product, and I sincerely recommend it to you.

I have been drinking Yerba Mate for the last 4 years (introduced to it by a good friend from Uruguay), I did not grow up with it though, and I have tried different varieties (Guayaki, Cruz de Malta and Canarias). I also use the traditional method for drinking Mate: a mate gourd (a.k.a. Matera, Mate, or Porongo) and a bombilla (a stainless steel straw). This Yerba Mate is a fine product indeed. No dust, very green, and a distinct flavor (it looks so rich, clean and primo!) It does not have the earthy-smoky flavor of the traditional Mate (which is usually dried with smoke) is definitely more on the green-herbal-leafy side.I enjoy both flavors, the traditional Mate and this green variety; and I think most tea drinkers will definitely enjoy this Inato Yerba Mate. If you are new to Yerba Mate I would suggest trying the traditional Mate first, as it does taste different.As for the traditional mate each brand has differences, for instance I found Cruz de Malta to be strong and bitter, Canarias was good, mostly all leaf (no stem, sin palo, and very little dust) although I had a little difficulty with my bombilla which seems to work better with a coarse grind; Guayaki is the flavor I enjoy most from these three, but it has more dust (Guayaki has leaf, stem...and dust).In summary, I definitely recommend this Yerba Mate, and will buy it again. Give it a try, although nontraditional you will see how good quality this version is.

This is a good quality Yerba Maté, with the fresh leaf and leaving out what is in most Yerba Matés, which is stems and dust. Because if this, there is little or no sediment on solution, if you use a standard tea strainer, Doesn't matter if using an empty fillable tea bag. These all leaf styles of Yerba Maté, are less likely to get bitter, if over steeped.

I got hooked on YERBA MATTE about 6 years ago when a co -worker came back from a vacation in Argentina talking about it. I tried some of his and at first I hated it, too bitter and had this awful dirty aftertaste. But I decided to keep drinking and after a few days I started to enjoy it. Since then I've been trying different brands with every bag I finish.I've had at least 20 different brands. When I got to INATO my brain exploded. It was light years smoother and more flavorful than any of the others I have tried. There is no comparison. INATO is so good I've turned a few co -workers onto it. I buy them for my brother and his wife. I'm so into this Matte I even ordered a INATO T-shirt form their website and I am not a person who likes print on their shirts. I usually have mine after lunch and it picks me up not only with energy but releases endorphins through your blood stream giving you a euphoric overall sense of well being. In other words puts me in a good mood the rest of the day. SO I can't rave enough about it.This is the freshest and most appealing Matte out of the couple dozen brands I have tried. Enjoy and then spread the word around.

I bought this Inato premium green tea before and liked the deep green and fresh flavor.This time the leaves are yellowish and the taste is not fresh. It now takes 2 tablespoons to get a mild flavor in a cup.I am not sure what is wrong with the current batch sold but the quality has definitely dropped.I am disappointed that I paid such a hefty price for the reduced quality of Yerba mate.