Kelmishka Send Message

Kelmishka drank Random Steepings by Various Artists

331 tasting notes

Ashmanra’s Sipdown Challenge | March 2023 | A favorite herbal tisane

March has been abysmal for sipdowns so far! And I really need to step up my game: My 52Teas February subscription box just arrived, my parents sent me some herbal blends from a small Rhode Island-based tea company for my birthday, and my in-laws sent me a Simpson & Vail gift card, sooo… I’ve gotta make room! (On that note, would love to hear everybody’s favorites from S&V!)

Anyway! This is a sad sipdown of a cinnamon-cardamom blend my wonderful supervisor gave me for the holidays last year, along with a lovely little mug hand-thrown by her husband. (It has pleasing dimples where my fingers naturally fall and is a real pleasure to use.) I don’t know where this blend is from or exactly what all is in it besides cinnamon, cardamom, and pink peppercorn, but it’s very comforting and gently spiced. I’m drinking it alongside an amazing vegan peanut butter pie my partner made for my birthday. :) A good Wednesday!

2023 sipdown count: 27/75

Flavors: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Peppercorn

I Like This

11 likes

3 comments

ashmanra
Delete

What a gift! And isn’t it neat that the cup fits your fingers so perfectly. It was just made for you!

AJRimmer
Delete

S&V is my favorite! Snickerdoodle, blueberry cinnamon crumble, apple cinnamon french toast, rooibos rootbeer, and carrot cake are all ones I reorder.

Kelmishka
Delete

ashmanra, I know! I’m so tickled every time I use it.

AJRimmer, oooh, thank you! Excellent recommendations (and ones I think I’ve added to my wish list in the past, haha!).

People who liked this

Comments

ashmanra
Delete

What a gift! And isn’t it neat that the cup fits your fingers so perfectly. It was just made for you!

AJRimmer
Delete

S&V is my favorite! Snickerdoodle, blueberry cinnamon crumble, apple cinnamon french toast, rooibos rootbeer, and carrot cake are all ones I reorder.

Kelmishka
Delete

ashmanra, I know! I’m so tickled every time I use it.

AJRimmer, oooh, thank you! Excellent recommendations (and ones I think I’ve added to my wish list in the past, haha!).

Profile

Bio

(she/her)

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. 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, 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

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer