"What does yerba mate taste like? Yerba mate has a slight astringent bitter taste due to the high tannin content of the leaves. Researchers have found that leaves from younger plants possess more tannins than leaves from older, more mature trees. Additionally, products with a higher amount of sticks and stems will typically have more of a woodsy taste than pure leaf mate. As with other bitter beverages such as black coffee, beer, or tea, straight yerba mate is an acquired taste for some consumers. People are naturally drawn toward sweet, sugary foods and drinks (even though these may not be the best choice from a nutritional standpoint). While folks in South America may shun adding sweeteners or fruit flavoring, it's perfectly OK here in the states to add these flavorings just like you would with coffee or tea.
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