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Kelmishka drank Banana Oat Muffin Honeybush by 52teas

325 tasting notes

Ashmanra’s Sipdown Challenge | May 2023 | A limited edition or seasonal tea

I was going to use this one for the “tea with a three-word name” prompt, but I realized that the Steepster listing includes “Honeybush” in the name, thus making it a four-word name. So instead I’m using it for “A limited edition or seasonal tea,” because this was a 52Teas tea of the week back in September.

I thought I’d reviewed this one before, but apparently not! The banana flavor actually reads more as green/slightly underripe banana than the overripe banana one would use for a baked good, but the warming spices and oatiness balance it out and add some heft. Allspice and nutmeg come through most strongly to me, along with a bit of earthy muddiness from the oats.

In real life, underripe bananas make me gag. Yet the flavor here isn’t bothering me too much.

All in all, this one does what it says on the label! :D

2023 sipdown count: 31

Flavors: Allspice, Banana, Mud, Nutmeg, Oats

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4 comments

ashmanra
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I think you can still use a tea name like that for the three word prompt. After all, mine could have been entered here Vanilla Rose Cake Green Tea instead of just Vanilla Rose Cake! The individual tea drinker’s interpretation is respected. Ha ha!

Kelmishka
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So they’re more like guidelines than actual rules… got it! :D

ashmanra
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Definitely just guidelines! Ha ha! I can parlez myself into lots of reasonable interpretations!

Kelmishka
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Hahaha! Perfect response.

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ashmanra
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Kelmishka
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So they’re more like guidelines than actual rules… got it! :D

ashmanra
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Definitely just guidelines! Ha ha! I can parlez myself into lots of reasonable interpretations!

Kelmishka
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Hahaha! Perfect response.

Profile

Bio

I was an anxious child who didn’t like change, so when my parents flew across the country for my grandfather’s wedding and left us kids with my aunt and uncle, I was a nervous wreck. Our first night at their house was tough. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and padded into the kitchen, where my aunt was puttering around. She could tell I was distressed and offered to make me a cup of tea. It was just Celestial Seasonings’ peppermint tea, but it was exactly what I needed. The tea itself, the comfort it represented, the ritual of making it… I was enchanted. I’ve loved tea ever since.

I’m partial to strong, intense flavors and prefer loose-leaf to bagged, but I also appreciate the convenience of bags and sachets. I mostly drink my tea straight but once in a blue moon I’ll add a little plant-based milk, generally oat.

I live in Maryland, USA, with my partner, three dogs, and one cat, and I’m an editor at an animal welfare nonprofit. I use she/her pronouns. I’ve actually been a Steepster reader for years and years, but only started posting in late 2021. :)

When I’m not drinking tea (or sometimes WHILE I’m drinking tea!) I’m reading, rewatching comfort shows on Netflix, going for a run, knitting, embroidering, hiking, or puttering in the garden. You can find me on Instagram at @kelmishka. (My account is private, but feel free to send a request!)

Favorite ingredients, flavors, etc.

Maple (all-time fave flavor!), vanilla, caramel, and all things dessert-y

Jasmine, lavender, violet, and most floral flavors

Most spices, although I go through phases and sometimes get bored of generic-feeling winter spice blends

Most fruity flavors

Matcha and other vegetal flavors

Not-so-favorite ingredients, flavors, etc.

Bergamot (I tolerate it, but it just doesn’t do it for me)

Hibiscus

Overly artificial flavors (banana, coconut, mango)

Overly herbacious blends, although this varies!

Stevia, monkfruit, and other sugar-alternative sweeteners — blech

Chocolate — it’s hard to get it right in tea, though I love real chocolate!

Animal products, including honey (long-time vegan checking in!)

My ratings

90-100: The best! Will almost definitely repurchase.

75-90: Really good, and potentially worthy of a restock.

60-75: Decent, if not terribly memorable.

50-60: In the “meh” range, but possibly for personal taste reasons.

35-50: I’m not a fan, and this is not very good tea.

20-35: Varying degrees of bad.

1-20: Actively bad. Like really bad. I can’t imagine anyone disagreeing.

Location

Maryland, USA

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