Banana Fudge

Received a small pacakage from derk but saying it’s from Kawaii433 so thank you both and the latter one… I hope you are doing well!

Anyway, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but some sweet candy. And it is! And great tasting banana. I probably never had so real tasting banana tea!

Banana covered with caramel topping, I assume. I don’t get any chocolate, but I definitely don’t miss it. Great tea!

Sipdown! (30 | 377)

A well-travelled sample, from Kawaii (I miss you!) by way of derk. Derk was kind enough to share with me some of the massive box of Persian Earl Grey she ordered (12 ounces?! How is that the only available size?) and she also sweetly sent along a few samples for my drinking pleasure. And they were all teas from my wishlist or teas that I’m sure to enjoy, thank you derk! QQ

I’ve never gotten around to ordering from Arthur Dove, despite hearing some good things about them both here and on Instagram. This is a yummy tea though! It actually reminds me of B&B’s Monkey Chops, which I suppose makes sense given they’re both a Sri Lankan black tea base with banana. The flavor reminds me of banana pudding, and there’s something a bit caramelized about it. I don’t get fudge at all, but it sounds like from the description that there isn’t any chocolate here anyway.

I do feel like the slightly tannic, metallic base sort of works against the creaminess that the banana is adding. But I’m also drinking this stone cold, so the base may have been a bit smoother when it was warm. Also I’m sure this would be scrumptious with milk. Yummy banana tea, thanks Kawaii and derk! :3

It’s too early for the seasonal glums, but it’s cold and gray and I was in need a little pick-me-up. Thanks to derk, I have one: a little packet of cheeky, chimpy, perky, cheerful tea with banana bits and a flavor that reminds me of bright yellow banana Runts. I’m getting more fudge in the scent than in the flavor, but I didn’t steep very scientifically, either.

Lancelot Link and Mata Hairi (you’ll just have to Google it) would have approved.

From Kawaii433 a couple months ago now.  From my wishlist!  Thank you so much!  The first of the new ones that Kawaii sent over that I’m trying. I hope both you and Pachinko are doing okay, Kawaii… 
I love a good banana tea and this is that.  However, I was wondering about the fudge part of the name… I can’t really taste any chocolate, so I started to wonder if they meant not a chocolate fudge, but like a fudge that only tastes like banana… you know, how sometimes a fudge isn’t actually chocolate and there are different flavors, for example: maple fudge.   The only time I really experienced fudge was during a vacation in the Adirondacks, and tried many odd flavors of fudge, so I know different flavors are a real thing!  So maybe this is just straight BANANA fudge… but no.  After reading the description, Arthur Dove does mean chocolate.  ANYWAY, who needs chocolate flavor when this banana flavor is so so good?  Not quite candy banana, but also not quite plain natural banana. But this is one of the great banana teas if I’m not aiming for also chocolate!
Steep #1 // 1 heaping teaspoon for full mug // 29 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 2-3 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep

March 2022 Sipdown Challenge – A tea flavored like your favorite pancake/waffle topping

Where I used to live in the city, there was a diner across the street called Moulin Rouge, which served American breakfast food and was run since its opening in the 1970s by a now-elderly Korean couple. They had these banana walnut pancakes that turned my disgust for raw banana into an appreciation for cooked. The pancakes were springy and chewy with loads of whole walnuts and thick-sliced banana that caramelized on the griddle.

Anyway, bananas are my favorite pancake mix-in, not a topping. Close enough!

Good medium-bodied Ceylon tea that brews a rich, dark brown in the mug. The flavors are not in my face which I appreciate. Light, fruity banana mixes with the grounding and bright black tea really well, which tastes mostly of ‘tea’ and a little coppery. The fudge is like a hidden accomplice, bridging the banana to tea with a light, fudgy sweetness. Toffee surprise in the finish, whether from the leaf itself or the flavoring, who knows. I’m pretty into this one :)

Only halfway down the mug and I’m wired! Thanks, Kawaii, for helping bring back a good memory.

Like Dustin, I’ve tried to coax the flavors out of this. I do taste the banana but it’s extremely light. Not sure if it was my imagination lol. I tried boiling water and cold brew overnight. I do not taste a hint of fudge. :(

Had a cup of this straight earlier in the week and felt so-so about it. The banana felt pretty light to me and hidden behind the tea base. I think I steeped it at 200 for 3 minutes. Today I did boiling for 3 minutes and I want to say it’s stronger, but it’s still more subtle than I like my banana teas. I added a little cream and sugar in this cup and that made the banana flavor feel more rounded and lively. I’m also not sure I get a proper fudge flavor. There is a deepness to the flavor that implies fudge, but it feels faint to me as well. The other AD teas I got are bursting with flavor and this one is much more subtle in comparison. I’ll keep messing with the steeping parameters to see if I can coax bolder flavors out of this.

Finished a mug of this a few minutes ago and was really impressed!

It’s both a buttery and soft banana as well as a nice ripe and sweet one, and it complimented beautifully with the sweet fudge/toffee notes that were the grounded undertone carrying into a sweet finish. I want to write more, but I’m heading into a meeting so this will have to do for now – but it was honestly just really good!