Samurai Mate Customer Reviews

This is one baby step above cinnamon water for me. I couldn't taste any fruitiness at all, and I even added a healthy dose of pineapple, mango, and orange pieces as my packet had none. There is slightly more body behind it due to the mate, but not enough that I get a real 'tea' vibe while drinking it. I've found that my personal preference is for chai flavors in black tea, as it seems to be the only one that can stand up to the heavy spices without tasting like bland cinnamon water. (reviewed through CommuniTEA; 5 min @ 195F)

6 helpful votes

I was extremely nervous about this tea going in. I do not like mate, and have a full aversion to anise. However, I’m working to be open minded and try it all. I’m glad I did. Not one of my top ten teas for sure, but this wasn’t bad. I couldn’t really taste the mate at all. Still could have done without the anise, but it wasn’t nearly as prominent as I feared. The sweetness of the green rooibos ended up winning this battle, and calming the feudal teas. Good reminder that stepping outside your comfort zone is always a positive thing!

26 helpful votes

I steeped this tea for 10 minutes at 212F. This tea was very heavily spiced, so I don't think I really tasted the tropical fruit undertones from the description. I tried it both hot and iced and I think I prefer it iced with just a little sweetener.

6 helpful votes

30 June 2020 review: Really nice and spicy chai aromas were noted in the bag. After steep a cloudy yellow color was seen in the cup. Slightly spicy aromas of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and anise were gearing up for the finish. As the brew cooled down to warm, all of the flavors and aromas of the above became strong with a slight nutty note from the almond. The mate made itself known with typically strong, earthy, and slightly bitter tastes. Light eucalyptus aromas were also noted. I really couldn’t pick out any fruit flavors though, but think they might have added a slightly sour flavor to the mix. I loved the use mate as the choice of tea. The inclusion of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and anise as the proper choice for a bold chai-type tea was really appreciated. This was a fun tea to review as there were pleasant flavors and aromas popping up around every corner. A bit of sugar smoothed the flavors together. Second steep was done with similar results. You definitely want to do a full 10 minute steep to give the mate a fair chance of not getting overpowered. (10 mins @ 212F, 1/4 tsp sugar)

47 helpful votes

This one is very nice. Strong cinnamon flavor, everything else takes an undercurrent, but it's very comforting and delicious.

6 helpful votes

A very light , mild chai with some fruity notes. I drank this as my first cup this morning instead of my usual black tea. It had enough caffeine for my morning cup, but not too much. I think I would enjoy this iced since it is such a light chai.

21 helpful votes

Wow, cinnamon! The chai spices were dominant over the fruity flavors in this blend, but all worked very nicely to create a smooth flavor.

Great tea!

6 helpful votes

What is not to love about this blend. From the strong bitter earthiness of the Yerba Mate, to the spicy notes from ginger and cinnamon, all rounding out with the light tropical under notes. This tea has everything I could want out of a Yerba Mate. All of the flavors blend beautifully together into a warm and enticing brew.

I could just imagine a Samurai of yore brewing this before battle and being emboldened by the flavors, and charging forth. I recommend this tea to absolutely anyone who loves both the dark notes of the Yerba Mate as well as the spicy notes one would expect in a chai. This tea is definitely becoming a staple in my house.

Brewed at 212*f for 9 minutes and lightly sweetened.

3 helpful votes

Cinnamon and spice and everything nice! That is a LITTLE bit of what this tea is made of! I loved opening this packet and smelling the cinnamon, ginger and cardamom tumbling out. However, I couldn't find the tropical notes advertised and was sad about that omission. I'm also just not that into yerba mate. I do think this is a fun and inventive blend that beckons to the adventurous palette. It's a light and bright play on a chai! It was an interesting blend to try for sure! I leave you with the words of the great samurai Musashi, 'To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead.' Happy Sipping!

26 helpful votes

This might be my second favorite yerba mate tea behind Mango Mate. I like the mix of spices and fruits. I love the tea leaf and liquid smell. All ingredients are present at sipping. I will definitely re-steep this one.

9 helpful votes

This is a delicious chai blend! It is very smooth with a lingering spice finish. I am not picking up on the fruits, but I might not have had a lot of them in my CommuniTEA packet.

30 helpful votes

Mate always leaves a strange, almost numb, mouthfeel to me. This is no different however the flavor is quite pleasant. I enjoy this cup quite a bit!

6 helpful votes

we've have mate in our household for years but i've been slow to embrace it - for the energy burst [and decreased appetite] it is really great and all the Adagio flavors make it even nicer

31 helpful votes

Very pleasant, lightly spiced, slightly fruity chai blend! The spices all blend well, with none of them trying to dominate. The fruit flavor when hot stays in the background. Very nice!

18 helpful votes

I am enjoying the blend of flavors. The hints of fruit and spice is very well done.

8 helpful votes

As a chai lover I enjoy trying different chai blends.. this is a not too spicy blend with the slightest hint of fruit.

7 helpful votes

Love this one. The spices dance with the lighter flavors of the yerba mate and fruit. A delightful way to get the day started.

5 helpful votes

The caffeine level is high and the spices are too over powering for me to enjoy this tea.

11 helpful votes

This chai blend has a sweet cinnamon, cardamom and ginger aroma with a touch of almond. The chai spices are well-balanced, but cinnnamon is slightly more prominent. The yerba mate lends a clean, slightly earthy base to all the flavors. I really liked the light touch of almond, but didn't get much fruit flavor out of my cup. Overall this is a really interesting brew with slightly different tastes coming up as the temperature cools.

27 helpful votes

Absolutely love this stuff, I drank my entire sample pouch in a safe days.i need to get more!! I did rinse this first by letting it sit in water for about 5 mins,then drained it and added the hit water. I read somewhere that you're supposed to do this with mate,cant recall where I read it though

5 min steep · 212°F · 9 helpful votes

Ordering more right away as this is one is one of my favorites.

3 min steep · 212°F · 3 helpful votes

Love this tea tastes just like the samurai chai mix from Teavana!! Definitely my go to tea

1 helpful votes

I am usually not a fan of fruit in tea, but in this tea, it really works for me. When you see the rather lengthy list of ingredients you think 'There is no way that all of these flavors are going to exist harmoniously', but somehow they do. The yellow of the mango, pineapple and papaya, the green of the mate, lemongrass and green rooibos, the red from the cinnamon cardamom and ginger. It all just works. I took a chance on this tea, and I'm glad that I did. It's nice to have a tea that is a little different from my familiar flavors. It's really fun to drink because it changes as you drink it. The flavors all unfold at different times on your palate, creating a very immersive experience.

8 min steep · 208°F · 1 helpful votes

I mix this tea with the Raja Oolong tea.. it is wonderful!! 😃

1 helpful votes

I will say I was pleasantly caught off guard by the flavor of this one, especially being my first time trying yerba mate. I usually end up using this as a mixer with my more fruity or floral teas for an extra zing of spice, but it also works well by itself. It's the spice you get first, and is definitely the star player in the mix, but it thankfully isn't too overwhelming. The fruity undertones help to cut the strength of the spice and round out the flavor before it becomes too much. I'd say be wary if you're not a huge fan of spice and cinnamon, as they're the strongest flavors on this pallet, but if that's your thing then don't hesitate to give it a shot!

1 helpful votes

It s the cinnamon!! I love, love, love this tea! While the cinnamon has the high note and the ginger adds some zing, the tropical notes do come through nicely. A definite reorder - in a larger size!!

1 helpful votes

All of the spices in this tea blend together so well - I expected some of them to be overpowering but they're all very well-balanced. This tea was also my first experience with Yerba Mate and I absolutely love it.

1 helpful votes

I was super excited to try this tea, and was not disappointed. The smell is lovely, and the mix of the fruits and spice is very good. Incredibly satisfying to drink

10 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

Delicious flavor and a perfect pick-me-up during the day.

1 helpful votes

This was not for me BUT the husband loves it and he hates tea

3 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

Such a surprising tea! You get sweet, citrus, and sharpness. I like it with a little bit of honey or vanilla sugar.

3 helpful votes

This is a tea I wanted to try with my mom! She liked a blend from Teavana before they were gone, and when I told her Adagio had alternatives she pointed to this one and said 'THAT'S THE ONE!' We have similar tastes, so after trying it myself I can say I'm also a fan. Can't wait to gift her some next time I see her.

1 helpful votes

I found this a little heavy on the cinnamon which threw off the balance of the rest of the spices. I drank plain; however, this tea may pair well with milk.

3 min steep · 212°F · 2 helpful votes

This tea was almost like a tropical chai for me. The mate was an interesting base, and the fruity flavors helped keep the cinnamon in check. This was my first mate tea, and it was a very tasty cup.

5 min steep · 200°F · 12 helpful votes

Well I only had a cup, as my son drank it on me. So I'll say it was pretty good. This is a more mild flavored tea.

1 helpful votes

Samurai Mate, where have you been all my life. The smell out of the packet is just a lovely amalgamation of spice and subtle fruit. Once brewed, it's quite spicy, but in the best way; cinnamon is prominent for me.

However, the best part is that there's enough fruit to add sweetness, so I didn't have to add any sugar or cream! Zero bitterness, as well. Definitely one to try.

10 min steep · 200°F · 1 helpful votes

Spicy aroma, tropical chai. Seems like an odd blend of ingredients to me, but it works! Nice balanced blend of spice and fruit. Smooth, easy drinker. Sweetened with honey.

10 min steep · 212°F · 39 helpful votes

Bought this tea solely based on the name. I am not a fan of cinnamon, so I was expecting to not be into this tea. I was pleasantly surprised by how good this was. The dried fruits in this really knock it out of the park.

9 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

A fun tea for cold weather! Tastes similar to a lot of other cinnamon/spice teas, but it’s delicious!

1 helpful votes

I originally purchased this to replace a tea from a company that is no longer around and was not disappointed. It tastes great.

1 helpful votes

This tea was for my husband. I had originally purchased a sampler that included samurai mate. He liked it so much that I ordered more. Very aromatic and flavorful. Highly recommended.

1 helpful votes

I got a sample size of this tea and had to reorder it in a larger size. It has a very complex (and very yummy) flavor. I guess it tastes kind of like if you mixed chai tea with yerba mate tea.

1 helpful votes

Full bodied, wonderful blend of warm cinnamon and spices.

10 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

Absolutely excellent tea. Spicy and fruity without being overwhelming. Fantastic way of starting my day. My partner says it smells like Christmas!

3 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

Flavorful Tea - Mixed with Rah Oolong for something that mimics 'Samurai Chai' from years ago.

7 min steep · 195°F · 1 helpful votes

One of my favorite teas so far, very homey cinnamon flavor but not spicy.

3 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

very flavorful tea. I have ordered the big bag for myself and others I know have ordered because they loved it at my house.

1 helpful votes

Wonderfully balanced chai flavor. I don’t need to add a thing. My kind of chai. Along with raja oolong chai, reminds me of an old favorite blend from Teavana.

8 min steep · 212°F · 14 helpful votes

I absolutely love this tea. I have a cup in the afternoon when I want a something sweet and fruity but with a kick of caffeine to keep me going through the work day. I have yet to try it iced but I'm excited to!

10 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes