On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 08:10:59 -0400, Un Known > wrote:

I think, for what I know, it is a good one. I bought it in a
biological shop where they have rare products and this is, in
addiction, from the transfair trade.
I think this is the link. Unfortunately only in italian
http://www.opappece.it/commercioequo/mate.html
But they talk more about the social problem then the MATE quality. I
don't have any experience to understand in what consist: shade or sun
one. I think with a little experience you can distinguish, isn't? What
makes you say one has grown in shade and another not? For exemple,
green japanese teas have a "sea-test" that oder don't. Is it something
similar with MATE?
For now I'll do my experience with that, and after I wish to try this
Guayaki or something of the same quality.

>On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:55:12 +0000, Dada wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:30:57 -0400, Un Known > wrote:
>>
>>> [quoted text muted]
>>
>>
>> I couldn't imagine better answers then I obtained from all of you. The
>> point is that I obtained a taste like that "smooth, smoky, juicy",
>> something between bamboo and tobacco, but also something sweet, preparing
>> it with nearly boiled water poured into a normal tea-pot with a metallic
>> filter.
>> Now I am going to try it at a lower temperature, as the one used for green
>> teas. On the site they suggest also to do it by expresso maker. Nice idea.
>> Have you ever tried?
>> I think you won't obtain foam, maybe. Do you drink it at any time of day
>> or is better in particular hours? Is it good to drink it while eating?
>> I ask because once I tried on an empty stomach SENCHA and I didn't have
>> real fun. I ask you that, beacause during those days I tried MATE only
>> after lunch.
>
>One school of thought that involves money is that it's the quality of the
>mate that counts. And also the eco-friendliness of the mate. Mate (ilex
>paraguariensis) -- a member of the holly family -- occurs naturally in the
>shade of the tropical rainforest. Many of the commercial brands are grown
>in the sun for mass consumption, and not only are they not organic, they
>aren't eco-friendly, and they aren't grown in the environment where they
>ought to be grown (in the shade, not in the sun).
>
>That's kind of why Guayaki is "where it's at" to a certain extent. It's
>sustainably grown, the money you pay for it goes to help protect a
>rainforest preserve, etc...
>
>If I were to suggest anything to anyone, it would be to try Guayaki.