Review: Teavana MatéVana

Jun 26

Review: Teavana MatéVana

Shelly’s Teaview Snapshot

"MatéVana tastes like a typical roasted maté with a mellow sweetness in the background, though I wish the chocolate and almond flavors popped a little more."

Shelly’s Teaview:	8/10
Other Teaviews:	Vanessa gave it 8/10, Lea gave it 8/10
Your Reviews:	10/10
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I’ve come to realize that maybe I’m not such a discriminating tea lover. I love almost all the teas I’ve been sent for Teaviews. This one is no exception.

The only experience I’ve ever had with maté is Morning Thunder. Even then, I was iffy because it sounded weird! I loved it, though.

So now, I find myself in a world of flavored matés that I never even knew existed until now! This is good and bad because I already have too much tea in my cupboard, but can’t resist new flavors! TeaVana’s website has four flavored matés that I am going to try. The one I am drinking today is called MatéVana.

I got all excited when I opened the package because it had a sweet almond aroma about it. I love almond and amaretto especially, so I thought maybe I had hit the jackpot. It sort of smelled like an almond cookie or biscotti. The dried leaves were quite beautiful and colorful. The ingredients list rooibos as a key player here, and the dried brew took on a distinct rooibos look while swirling in water. Also, this tea blend contains cactus blossoms, cornflower petals, and sunflower petals. I’m not sure which I see, but there are a few huge blossom-like pieces in this blend as well.

After brewing, the smoky maté fragrance dominated this blend. Yet, there was still a slight almond quality lingering in the background. Maté tastes like it was roasted over an open fire. It has a deep and exceedingly smoky taste that is reminiscent of coffee (but better). In fact, the TeaVana website lists this tea as a good coffee alternative with a better form of caffeine for your nervous system. There is quite a bit of information about the origin of maté tea on this website including all the properties of the tea itself. It’s also a gorgeous website that I will revisit.

So, MatéVana tastes like that typical roasted maté with a mellow sweetness in the background. I don’t taste a sharp almond or amaretto taste, but it is there if you concentrate on it. The only suggestion I have to better this blend pertains to that: I wish the chocolate and almond flavors popped a little more. Other than that, a very enjoyable brew that I’d consider ordering for when a maté craving hits!

— To purchase Teavana MatéVana, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.