Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Green Yerba Maté
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
So, I’m on a bit of a banana kick lately, but trust me, you won’t be disappointed in this week’s tea of the week. Here’s some green (non-roasted) yerba mate blended with real freeze-dried bananas, and natural banana and maraschino cherry flavors.
If you haven’t had green mate (or any yerba mate) before, you’re missing out. The un-roasted variety is a bit vegetal; it reminds me of a nice green tea, except it doesn’t get bitter. Yerba Mate also has the extra benefit of being VERY caffeinated. A lot of people who have issues with side effects from other caffeinated beverages report that they do not experience the same side effects when drinking yerba mate.
This blend of bananas, maraschino cherry and energy is going to become a welcome addition to my morning routine.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I wasn’t too sure about this blend when I first tried it, and even now, I can say that it isn’t my favorite blend from 52Teas. Even so, I am enjoying it, so I can’t say that it’s a disappointment, either.
The dry leaf aroma is spectacular. The fragrance of bananas fill the air every time I open the pouch – and I happen to love banana. I can also detect hints of cherry as well as the vegetative, earthy tones of the yerba maté. Once brewed, the infusion emits an aroma that is quite a bit softer, but still very much banana with faint cherry notes and the slightest whisper of that earthy quality.
Which I guess is what threw me off … because I had expected the fruit flavors to be stronger than the yerba maté flavor, but, my first couple of sips, what I tasted most was the earthy, vegetal, and even slightly smoky presence of the yerba maté. I could taste the banana; I could even taste the cherry. But neither were as strong as I had expected from the aroma.
But as I continued to sip, I noticed the flavors starting to develop. Now, as I am halfway through my second cup of this tisane, I am enjoying the flavors. I like the way the sweet flavor of the banana marries with the earthy tones of the yerba maté, and how the cherry notes weave their way in and out throughout the sip. The cherry becomes especially pronounced in the aftertaste, when I taste a distinct cherry flavor that is sweet and even just a little tart.
Not exactly what I expected when I first opened the pouch, but it is still tasty!
