Playadito — 2.55 of 5 palos — reviewed 3/16/2012
Type: Traditional, Con Palos
Region: Colonia Liebig, Corrientes, Argentina. Cooperativa Agrícola de la Colonia Liebig Ltda.
Description:
This cooperatively grown yerba of Corrientes, Argentina, bordering Misiones,has some history to it. Upon immigrating to Argentina around the end of the 19th century, German farmers, with the combined efforts of Ukrainian and Polish immigrants from the adjacent province of Misiones, joined together to form a cooperative of, now, over 140 workers, focusing on the production of honey, livestock, and, of course, mate. For 80 years now, this band of farmers have been going at it; providing principal jobs for the locals of around 4,000 population. Though as nice as this history sounds, and the good work coming out of this region, I can’t speak with the same esteem as to the taste and depth of their yerba. This extremely mellow yerba is not only weak, but bodiless.
Cut 2.75 palos
Clumsy, chunky, broad cut. Plenty of surface area with these wide leaves. I can go boggiebording with one of them! Some palo monsters. Low polvo content. Weak PPL-R. Low splinter stem content. Very fluffy and airy.
Body/Texture 2.50 palos
Very light body. Lacks body. Lacks richness. Granted, if water is allowed to over-steep, the character is greatly improved, but cycle is shortened. Some woody notes. The experience is very light — too light. This yerba is floating.
Nose 2.50 palos
Very nondescript. Light. Some sweet, but extremely subtle, hints.
Finish 2.75 palos
Very light. To its credit, little to no bitter kickbacks. Somewhat refreshing, but lacks structure and versatility. Flat. Green tea.
Cycle 2.25 palos
Short cycle. With the lack of polvo and inclusion of high palo count, this mate doesn’t stick around long.
Overall: 2.55 palos
Recommendation
Closer to green tea than yerba, this mate is best suited for the most reluctant yerba drinkers, whom prefer an almost bitter-free experience. Smoother and mellower than even the likes of Unión Suave, this yerba is your training wheels to the more character rich yerbas that, in my opinion, make mate what it is: a necessarily bitter, yet subtly sweet and aromatic drink with complexities that go beyond the steeping and continue within yourself. Playadito doesn’t quite open the door to my taste buds, still less entering my spirit, and keeps me in constant wanting for that “kick” that I’ve become so adjusted to. Perhaps the American palate, yet untrained to the bitterness of typical Argentinian and Uruguayan taste, would appreciate this yerba more than anyone else. Though, dare I say that even this yerba may fall short of such a task. I’m actually looking forward to not drinking this yerba anytime soon.
I have to say I agree with you pretty much.
I find this Yerba so boring that I still have half a 500g pack leftover from a few months ago, I ordered more because it was simply too bland for my “mate mouth”
Props to UruShop.co.uk for providing so much variety so I could try it, though – one of the few online retailers in general that I use and have never felt robbed
Yeah, Playidito is really boring. Try some Canarias Especial if you get a chance. Kraus Gaucho is pretty amazing, too.
Dave Mate
Pardon my dissent, but I completely disagree…. As an Argentine I have been drinking mate since I was ten or so… I don’t discredit other marks of mate, but Playadito is not bunk. If you spend any significant time in north central Argentina, such as Corrientes (where my family comes from) you will learn that mate has a different refinement. Playadito requires extremely controlled water temperature to activate correctly. Too cold, and it is weak as you say. Too hot and it burns, not only shortening the cycle but also releasing tannins and giving it too much chalkyness. Correntinos are known to check the water temperature with their fingers before putting it on the yerba. I recommend you head to Goya and see how the aesthetic of Marcas such as Playadito are not “wrong” but different… this is a “suave” style yerba, but it does not lack depth. And heck, you may learn how to prepare your mate in a new way that you may like.
Just my two cents.
Hey Andres,
I really liked your two cents. It sounded more like a quarter!
No, really, what you say is valid: different mates are expressed differently with
various temperatures of water. No doubt.
Then comes “preference.”
I’m sure that people who like their mate soft and light, Playadito is preferable. However, if a Matero is seeking robustness and strength, then Playadito isn’t even an option.
You’ve inspired me to give it another chance—so we’ll see what happens.
Saludos desde NY
Gracias!