ECOTEASOrganic Yerba Mate Loose Leaf Tea – Natural Energy & Detox Herbal Tea – Caffeine Alternative - Kosher, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free - Unsmoked Pure Leaf from Argentina, 1 lb (Pack of 1)

This tea cranks me up.

I drink Yerba Mate Tea (both hot and cold) and have tried plenty of other brands and types. I always end up back at Eco Teas for their loose leaf variety because the cost is fantastic and the taste is really good. Yerba Mate has so many health benefits including being jammed packed with antioxidants and stomach digestive benefits. The reason why I love it is because it picks you up and gets you going like coffee but does not have the crash at the end. I brew mine in a coffee press and then depending on how I am going to prepare it (i.e. hot or cold) I will add either honey or Agave to sweeten it. A quick tip for anyone who is new to Yerba Mate: use a good amount of the tea so that you get a nice strong flavored tea, especially if you are trying to kick a coffee habit (like I was) and want a strong tasting, equally stimulating beverage. Mine comes out with a strong amber/caramel color, and somedays when I really want a kick it comes out brown. Also, make sure when you pour the tea into your press that you add a little bit of cold water to it to let the leaves soak and prepare for the hot water. The tea leaves are very powdery and dry, and the water helps to bring them back to life (or so to speak) Failure to do so might create a burnt taste that will lessen the enjoyment of your drink. In the end, I give it 5 stars because of the cost and the fact that it does its job. There are more expensive better tasting teas out there, but if you drink as much tea as I do and you don't want to take out a second mortgage on your house, buy THIS tea.

Smooth and delicious. Less stems and twigs than other brands

This is my first foray into yerba mate and I didn't really know what to expect. I wanted to try it based on the reported health benefits, and the fact that I love all kinds of tea. First off, I received my order in one day! It was very well packaged with multiple layers of bubble wrap and arrived unscathed. I like doing business with American companies, and I recommend this one highly. I brewed my first cup using a tea infuser (wetting yerba with cool water first and then steeping in water just below the boiling point). I must say, the first sip is very interesting. It is a bit like very strong green tea, mixed with a black tea, mixed with dried maple leaves, in a good way. It is very rich with deep earthy notes, without being bitter at all. I did have to incorporate some honey, but the first 3-4 sips were all it took to really start enjoying the flavor. Out of the bag, the quality of the product is very good! Consistent sized leaf, no discernible stems and very little powder. Using it in a stainless steel infuser, I truly expected to see quite a bit of residue in the bottom of the cup. Not the case at all, in fact, no more that any other loose leaf tea. I can not compare the actual taste to any other yerba, as this is my first go at it. I can tell you it is like no other "regular" tea I have ever had. Viva la difference!

This is not a major comparative mate review, although this mate is generally well-reviewed on the web. This is just about drinking this mate for a few weeks after drinking various forms of tea -- black, green, oolong -- for decades. First, it seems true that green mate delivers caffeine without jitters or letdown. This has to do with its antioxidant profile, which is higher than that of green tea. It elevates mood in a somewhat different way, creating positivity without an edge. It's still caffeine, so I found that about two cups a day is enough. Second, the taste. It was a little different or intense at first but I've made lots of "bitter" medicinal teas over the years and it grew on me very quickly. Kind of like, Hey wait, this is really good. I was kind of surprised. There's a lot of latitude about the level of brightness or bitterness. This can be controlled by the brewing temperature. Lower temp water means less bitterness. The package says 170 degree water, some people say 160. At 160, there's zero bitterness. Anyway, I got this in the height of August heat, and started brewing it cold because more heat was out of the question. Cold-brewed overnight, this is really bright up front, with a nice roundness to finish, and totally refreshing. I loved it, 10 out of 10. I gave it to a friend who was over, they loved it, but they've also done various bitter teas over the years. If you've made cold brewed tea, it's just different, it takes longer but flavors happen that aren't part of hot brewed tea. To get the same quality from a hot water brew, I've had to go to water just off the boil. It's not the same, but close. I like it much better than the 160-170 mate. Third, mate has a culture, and you can find out a reasonable amount about different brands from different countries, and somewhat what they taste like, although this is *really* personal, online. Update: I recently tried Guayaki organic for comparison woth something more widely marketed. This one has stems in it, and is milder or softer overall. For me, I'll be sticking with the Ecoteas version for the depth and sprightliness of the flavor.

I have been drinking this yerba mate for 10 years or so because it's always fresh and flavorful. I love the energy it gives me in the mornings too.

Finally some yerba mate with flavor. It's a little bit on the dry side but the flavor is very full.

The media could not be loaded. This has become my favorite Tea. I drink it almost every morning. Occasionally I'm in the mood to make Chai or Coffee. But this is my main morning staple, which is a good thing since I use to drink 2 cups of coffee every morning for decades! I do not have that come down tired feeling as coffee can do to you. I feel clear headed, energized with just the right amount of caffeine, it is also a natural appetite suppressant for me, as well as just overall good and healthy.I have recently started making it in my Pour Over pot and WOW! Even better! Smoother and more delicious! One of these bags lasts me about 5-6 months which makes it well worth the price. I use 3-4 for 4-5 cups, my cup is large, but I just repour it over a couple of times as I go to strengthen the Tea. You get a lot out of this pound if you use it wisely, and not just toss it out after a cup or two. Try it!