Yerba mate, a traditional South American drink, has a slightly bitter taste due to the high tannin content of the leaves. The taste can be overwhelming at first, but it is an herbal infusion, so you can expect a herbal tea-like taste from any kind of yerba mate. In general, mate is more bitter, more pronounced, and bolder than green tea or other herbal teas. Most yerba mates are more or less tobaccoey, earthy, and naturally sweeter than most teas. Some people describe the taste of mate as a bitter, earthy, tobaccoey, and sweeter green tea but bold and tart like a black tea with effects of coffee. The taste of mate is an acquired taste, and it may take some time before you develop your "mate palate".