I’m really not much of a mate drinker but I ordered some other things from Fusion Tea Room so I got a sample of this to try… I’m hoping it will taste like a frappuccino or something. :)
Steeped in usual mug method at around 190F for 7 minutes. The aroma of this is very coffee like and minty. After having the first sip I am picking up lots of spearmint and mate. There is a mocha flavor here but the mint is quite prominent. I did add some soymilk to this and liked it much better that way than I did plain. As a dessert drink this is pretty yummy but it definitely needed the creamy element for me.
I do worry about mate as they say drinking large amounts of it may cause cancer… but I will have no problems finishing off this yum-a-licious sample. I do miss coffee drinks so this is a great substitute.
Now I wish I had gotten more mate from them but I got some other neat stuff… stay tuned. ;-)
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Amy, I am glad you enjoyed the sample and I wanted to correct the misconception many have about Yerba Mate and the possible cancer side effects. The traditional way to dry Yerba Mate is to smoke it. This adds carcinogens to the Mate which can cause cancer. Plus you would have to have ALOT day in and day out to make a difference. The actual leaf by itself has not ill effects and has tons of antioxidants. With that said we at the Fusion Tea Room do not have any Yerba Mate that has been smoked. So feel free to drink plenty of it :)
Awesome information, Fusion Teas! Thanks for sharing! I know I’m planning on writing about Yerba Mate sometime in the near future and this is some good information to start with. :)
I’ve done a bit of my own research and I am still skeptical. I think I’ll stick to the advice by the Mayo Clinic and others and consume it only occasionally. It was a very nice blend.
Everything in moderation is a very good way to live life. In my own research I tend to think the smoked mate is the colporate. Also the traditional way to drink it in a gourd at a high temperature and re-steeping it over and over can add to the cause. We recommend steeping our Mate at 180. As there is some questions raised about Yerba Mate we encourage everyone to do their own research and be comfortable in what they decide.
Yeah, from the stuff Missy read regarding Mate, it wasn’t the plant itself that was considered a cancer causing agent, but likely caused by the production facilities or the uber-hot temperatures that the locals drank the mate at. Which is something to worry about for tea drinkers and mate drinkers alike ;)
Side note – I think I want to try this tea. Fusion – I think it’s awesome that your website has a link to Steepster on it. Very brave move ;)
Makes me wary of other smoked teas-ie Lapsang Souchong.
Amy, I am glad you enjoyed the sample and I wanted to correct the misconception many have about Yerba Mate and the possible cancer side effects. The traditional way to dry Yerba Mate is to smoke it. This adds carcinogens to the Mate which can cause cancer. Plus you would have to have ALOT day in and day out to make a difference. The actual leaf by itself has not ill effects and has tons of antioxidants. With that said we at the Fusion Tea Room do not have any Yerba Mate that has been smoked. So feel free to drink plenty of it :)
Awesome information, Fusion Teas! Thanks for sharing! I know I’m planning on writing about Yerba Mate sometime in the near future and this is some good information to start with. :)
I’ve done a bit of my own research and I am still skeptical. I think I’ll stick to the advice by the Mayo Clinic and others and consume it only occasionally. It was a very nice blend.
Everything in moderation is a very good way to live life. In my own research I tend to think the smoked mate is the colporate. Also the traditional way to drink it in a gourd at a high temperature and re-steeping it over and over can add to the cause. We recommend steeping our Mate at 180. As there is some questions raised about Yerba Mate we encourage everyone to do their own research and be comfortable in what they decide.
Yeah, from the stuff Missy read regarding Mate, it wasn’t the plant itself that was considered a cancer causing agent, but likely caused by the production facilities or the uber-hot temperatures that the locals drank the mate at. Which is something to worry about for tea drinkers and mate drinkers alike ;)
Side note – I think I want to try this tea. Fusion – I think it’s awesome that your website has a link to Steepster on it. Very brave move ;)
Makes me wary of other smoked teas-ie Lapsang Souchong.