The first time I went to Kin it was for the donuts. I watched as everyone was leaving with drinks. I have never been one to go to a coffee shop or tea shop for drinks. The next time I tried the Suuk (mugwort). What a culinary delight. Next time it was Hojicha. I am now a regular! I have worked my way to Strawberry Rose Matcha. The best!!!!! It isn't just the food. When you walk in you feel welcomed. The vibe is relaxed with wonderful music. All this comes together with the most incredible team. You talk with strangers while sitting on the bench. I now have my "Kin Friends". In today's world it is such an unexpected experience. Kudos to Tommy & Will for giving us such a wonderful place to just go unwind and enjoy their wonderful creations. read more

I want to start my review by talking about the stellar customer service experience I received while visiting Kin's for the first time. The young lady up front was very welcoming and provided amazing service! This place has been so popular on social media and they are known for their matcha specials. If you follow them on instagram they post their daily specials and provide great updates of their inventory and wait times (a genius idea may I add). My personal favorites were the matcha einspanner and their strawberry matcha latte. For mochi donuts I especially enjoyed their lemon blueberry ricotta and brown butter turon specials. Inside they have nice seating and some stools but it gets very busy so the seating area can fill up. They also provide umbrellas if there is a long line and a hot sun outside. I highly recommend this place so be sure to check it out! read more

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Was curious about the hype surrounding this place so I decided to go check it out. Went on a Saturday at 9:15AM and there were already 10 people in line before opening. We got the regular matcha latte and the strawberry matcha latte which were both delicious and had lots of matcha in it which we appreciated. We also liked that the drinks weren't too sweet. We also tried the mochi donuts, mango cheesecake was good but Thai tea Oreo was weird. Ube muffin was decent but overpriced for the size. Wish we could've tried the brioche but they don't sell them until noon. Overall solid spot for matcha and pastries! read more

I've been daydreaming of their hojicha black sesame everyday since I got it last weekend. I highly recommend this drink!! We arrived about 10 minutes after opening time and there was already a 20 minute line out the door. Someone would come out frequently to hand out samples and provide umbrellas for the wait. Once inside, we were greeted by the cashier, who was super sweet and welcoming! (The barley tea was delicious by the way). Because we went earlier in the day, their brioches weren't ready yet, but I definitely would have wanted to try them!! My friend ordered a matcha but she actually wasn't super impressed even though I think they're known for their matcha here. I'm glad I had a chance to try this place out! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I was worried that this place would be overhype but it's genuinely the best matcha I've ever had. They make really good drinks beyond the specialties, the matcha itself is really good. The people here are super nice too and helpful with the menu. it's a bit small but i think that's also because of how many people are here lol. definitely recommend waiting in the line to try this spot. it's very clean and like modern chic look. The mochi donut doesn't really taste like the flavor but it was fun to try. read more

Kin Bakeshop - earl grey matcha cream top and oat milk matcha latte - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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They were closed the first time I stopped by so was very happy this time to have made it just in time before they cut off the line. I tried the matcha einspanner and it was very good. I am usually wary when anything sweet is added to matcha drinks because it can so easily overpower the matcha flavor and taste, however the sweet cream was not too sweet and complemented it rather than overpower the matcha flavor. I also tried the Ube Cheesecake mochi donut and it was good, but I think the star of the show are the matcha drinks. Minimal decor, if you didn't know what type of business it was it would be hard to tell just by looking in since everything is put away when they close. Menu is projected on the wall. Seating not very inviting, probably to prevent the crowd from staying too long. read more

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We had an absolutely wonderful time! The line was long but it was well worth the wait! We ordered the black sesame matcha, black sesame cream top, and their Thai tea cream top for our drinks! For our donuts, we ordered their POG, cookies and cream, and the raspberry and chocolate. My partner liked the Thai tea and the raspberry donut the most! I loved all of their black sesame drinks and was blown away by their cookies and cream! With their rotating menu, I can't wait to enjoy what other drinks they bring to their menu! I secretly hope they bring back their blueberry matcha and biscotti donut again soon! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Kin Bakeshop is hands down some of the best matcha we've ever had. The coconut matcha was definitely the star, so refreshing and perfectly balanced. Fair warning: the lines can get long, but it's 100% worth the wait. Pro tip: follow them on Instagram because they post what's available and what's sold out. We came a bit later in the day and missed out on the cinnamon sugar mochi donut, so now we've got a solid reason to come back. For drinks, we tried two matcha options (one with a foam top and the other with coconut water) plus a Thai tea, everything was amazing. The vibe is super chill with a clean, minimalist aesthetic, and a cool projector screen menu. Seating is limited, but it didn't take away from the experience. This is definitely going to be a must-stop anytime we're in Santa Barbara! read more

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Kin really benefits by its proximity to UCSB college students. The lines are long, and honestly (as an Asian Ame.) I've never seen so many Asian people lined up; it really feels like you're at a trendy cafe in Koreatown, LA or San Francisco. It appears that this is a mainstay for UCSB Asian/ Asian Ame. students. The shop itself is extremely minimalist- concrete, stark white walls, and light wood touches. So it's actually not that cozy and inviting to sit and spend a lot of time. And honestly there isn't room with all the traffic coming through. The workers seem to be younger college students, and they are all friendly and the hard-working baristas are able to handle the long drink lines. My first time I got 3 mochi donuts and they were super fresh, melt in your mouth. My 2nd trip, I think the donuts were sitting in boxes so they didn't have that fresh gooey texture. But the rotating flavors are so interesting, with deep flavors. I really appreciated my Black sesame one. The match and tea based cold drinks are highly IG -able. The creamy foams are impressive. Kin is a unique, very Asian addition to this area. read more

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We were in town on a roadtrip and decided to stop at Kin. The drinks are all aesthetically pleasing and honestly I had a hard time deciding but eventually went with the matcha einspanner. Glad to say the drink had both substance and style. The flavor was full and bold, the cream was sweet but just right. The lines were long-ish but trust me the drinks were worth it. The mochi donuts looked good but I didn't get to try them this time around. I wish I could try more drinks but definitely going to keep Kin as a bookmark for future visits! 4/5 mainly because the price is fairly steep but thankfully the drink itself was good. the read more

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So *aesthetic* with great taste to boot! I think the stars were the drinks with the heavy cream to0z make sure to drink it by sipping to get the full flavor and texture experience. I liked the mugwort drink, but believe their take on thai tea was better and probably the best thai tea I've had. Expect a long line, but a short wait after placing your order. They serve barley tea gratis after you place your order. Limited seating area meant for conversing and not for working so keep that in mind. read more

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This is now I must visit whenever I come to Santa Barbara! I love that the flavors are always rotating, but also always so creative and and delicious since we came in the middle of the day. The wait was about 20 minutes long, but luckily not the longest it's ever been. There's a bit of seating inside and a few tables if you choose to eat there. The service is really nice! read more

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I googled best matcha in the area and it landed me at Kin. Kin has a very minimalistic cool clean vibe to it that I really like. The service is great, and I love that they present your drinks on that little tray. Honestly, the best matcha I've ever had. It's smooth and creamy, and the Ube was so yummy. It was sweet without being too sweet. Everything tasted quality. I would DEFINITELY recommend this spot. The coffee drinks also looked amazing. The flavors change so that's a fun draw to visit! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Ube matcha - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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It's been about six weeks since my visit and Yelp just reminded me to write a review... I forgot what drink I ordered, but it's pictured here and whatever it was it did not disappoint. One of the customers I made conversation in line with recommended. I get a doughnut and I'm so happy I listened because it's probably one of the best donuts I've ever had. In short, I give this place a 10 out of 10 for their Customer Service delicious drink and treat - line was long as I waited about 30 minutes however this place is definitely worth the hype and I can't wait to go back read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Been here several times now and every time it's been a wonderful experience! The food is great. Love the donuts, every flavour I've tried has been amazing! The drinks too! Even though they regularly change the flavours and I think I want the same one again and again, I find the new ones they bring out are just as good. The service is fast and they are always very friendly. The ambience is ok, it's very simple with small decorations like flowers. Would be even better with outdoor seating or just more comfortable seating .. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Mochi donuts - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Arrived on a Wednesday at 12:30. Received baked goods at 12:50 and drink at 1pm. Yes, there was a line, but things moved along. If you're in a rush, don't increase your own anxiety by visiting. Save this trip for a a day where you have some time, maybe at hour--to enjoy the whole experience: asking questions, ordering, and enjoying the goods in the space! Calm music, not too loud. Most customers seem to be high school or college students who know what they want. Earl grey hojicha cream top: hojicha latte with a little earl grey syrup topped with earl grey cream top. Can taste the earl grey in the cream and the latte portion--it is not overpowered by the hojicha! Delicious drink. Banana sesame mochi donut: like a chewy banana bread with a lightly sweet sesame glaze. A fun treat! Ube mochi muffin: very, very tasty, if one likes Ube. Slightly crispy outside, very chewy inside and toasty, nutty Ube flavors throughout! 10/10 all around! Will have to come back and try the rest of their extensive drink menu. read more

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I've passed by Kin a bunch of times but the line was always so long. I always wondered if it was worth the hype. And I can tell you that it definitely is! My six-year-old daughter literally asked "What do they put in these? They're so good!". The line will probably be long. Every time I've passed by the line has been at least 20 people. But it's worth it! Their donuts are so good, soft, perfectly sweet, and so cute. Thai tea was delicious! The service was really friendly. It was also really quick. Lots of people sitting inside, made it a really lively environment. Lots of adorable decor. We will definitely be back! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The size of the line tells you all you need to know about Kin. The donuts and baked creations are alarmingly good, and the drinks are even more so. The prices are fine and once you see a person, they are nice. I wish they had more people to serve the hoard of customers, but I am in no position to tell them what to do. Definitely worth trying once, just know you'll be in line for 30 minutes or more. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Long line, all the time, because it's so good. - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Was in town and wanted some coffee so stopped by. What a great experience! First of all shout out to Rachel who was working the front. She explained all of the coffee options and was tremendously helpful on her recommendations. We ended up going with the einspanner. It was creamier than most and had a fluffy cream top that was to die for! Bury me in that stuff! Also had to have a donut. We went with the cinnamon and the blueberry mojito. The mojito one was our favorite. Please note we went at 10 and there was indeed a line but it moved relatively fast. There's a parking lot right in front so parking was easy. There are a few tables inside and it's a small cute place. All in all 10/10. read more

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AMAZING matcha and unique pastry/drink options. Waited about 30+ minutes on a Sunday around noon. Super friendly staff and a nice interior.

Came here on a weekday and it was pretty busy, mostly with high schoolers from across the street. The shop itself is really cute minimal inside with a nice outdoor space to sit and enjoy your drink. The staff was super kind and even had a tea sample out for tasting, which was a nice touch. I ordered the sesame matcha, and my husband got the einspanner latte. We also tried the banana pudding mochi donut. And of course, I had to grab a pup cup for my dog ,they offer them, so how could I not? The matcha was incredibly thick, creamy, and flavorful. The sesame cream on top paired perfectly with the earthiness of the matcha. The einspanner latte was also delicious !! Rich, smooth, and indulgent. My dog definitely approved of her pup cup too! Overall, I'd recommend stopping by if you're passing through on your way to downtown Santa Barbara. Cute spot, great drinks, and friendly service. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Kin Bakeshop was remarkably popular, with a line out the door on a Saturday. The line moves pretty quickly, so it's not too bad a wait, in my opinion. Once you get closer to the front of the line, you'll have a clearer view of the menu, which is projected onto the wall behind the register. The menu is pretty interesting, especially its seasonal options, which included a carrot cake matcha when I was there. The interior of the shop is minimally decorated, and the seating situation is a bit cramped. It's definitely not a cafe super suitable for studying or doing work. DRINKS: I got offered a small cup of barely tea after ordering, which was a pleasant little amenity. The drinks you actually order will be brought out to you on a tray, which was an unexpected formality. Strawberry Matcha Latte (4/5) - I'm no expert, but I thought the matcha tasted pretty high quality. I enjoyed the strawberry flavor, but I wish it were a tad more tart to offset the bitterness of the matcha. My friends enjoyed their drinks, but I can't remember what exactly they ordered. I will say the drinks are pretty small compared to what I'm used to for the price I paid. Since the cups were pretty small and filled to the brim, it was also notably hard to mix. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Strawberry Matcha Latte - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Have tried the Black Sesame Hojicha with oat milk. Very cool beverage. Loved the "cream" on top. I'd prefer if it was a bit less sweet. I tried the black sesame matcha with oat milk. It was tasty but didn't have much of a black sesame flavor. The matcha flavor was tasty until I got towards the bottom. Then there was too much matcha and it became bitter. Love the apricot/mango donut. I plan to return and request the black sesame hojicha and ask if they can make it less sweet. Great service. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Black Sesame Matcha - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My favorite place in town to get matcha and mochi donuts! I wasn't a fan of matcha until I tried Kin's and their blueberry matcha is my absolute favorite! There's a reason why there's always a line at this place and (mochi) donuts can sell out pretty quickly! So always get here as early as possible. I will forever always recommend this place to friends/family visiting! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Blueberry matcha, black sesame enspeinner, hojicha, matcha Oreo mochi donut, açaí mochi donut - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Their brioche donuts are ONLY weekends! But they daily have Mochi donuts and different flavors. The service here was great and the staff was friendly as we ordered and got our order. The place is cute and chill vibes. Reminds me of Korea or Japan cafes a little. * read more

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I heard the line can get long sometimes but there wasn't much of a wait when I went in the afternoon. I ordered the sesame matcha latte and it tasted really good. It wasn't too sweet for me which I loved. I noticed that they don't put ice in their drinks (just something I found interesting). There's seating inside where I saw people reading and catching up with friends. I definitely would love to come again to try their mochi donuts! read more

Kin Bakeshop - sesame matcha latte - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I will always make a trip out here because their coffee, service and sweet treats are amazing! Typically, the line is not too long and it goes by fairly fast. The parking lot is huge and easy to navigate. The shop itself is somewhat small but you can identify it easily by the line going out the door! The ambiance and vibes were amazing! My favorite is the banana matcha but all their drinks are delicious! Definitely recommend trying this place or being a regular if you are local. read more

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It's really good, but the dirtiness is so off putting... It seems like they don't know what a microfiber/duster is nor do they clean their walls. Makes me wonder what BoH looks like Drinks worth, but wait is definitely long. read more

I'm not a big mochi donut person (or sweet breakfast person at all), but I was here for the purposes of gluttony. Service was fast even though it was one person in the front ringing people up and packing the donuts. I got a matcha latte as well it was good, my boyfriend didn't like it but he doesn't like matcha. Blueberry Lemon donut was my favorite, would get it again. Bf said the Turon flavor was very well executed. Personally, I thought the Lychee Sakura donut tasted a little perfume-y, but worth a try. Someone else mentioned that the line gets really long early in the mornings, We arrived around 9:30ish on a Tuesday and there was already a line but it wasn't a crazy wait. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Blueberry Lemon, Lychee Sakura, Banana Turon - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Tried this cafe on the way home from a long trip. We ordered the hojicha einspanner and espresso einspanner. We loved both drinks! The hojicha was a perfect strength of flavor and had a good amount of cream. The espresso einspanner was also perfectly balanced. We waited about 30 minutes but drinks came out very quickly. No complaints about the wait time because we knew what to expect with its popularity. Baristas were nice and sweet. read more

A sheer delight and genuine gem, Kin Bakeshop is my favorite matcha spot in California. Not just Santa Barbara-- California. THE VIBE: - From the moment you walk in, the chill minimalist vibe sets a welcoming tone. The staff, ever-friendly and helpful, greet you with a smile at the counter and are happy to guide you through the menu options and offer some complimentary barley tea. THE MATCHA: - Kin uses Mizuba Matcha: delightfully smooth and balanced, not too bitter, perfect sweetness. THE CREAM: - Kin's Matcha Einspanner is one of those drinks that you dream about later that night and then go back for the next day. The vanilla cream top is thick and sweet, an absolute highlight. I've watched countless of my friends' eyes widen at their first sip. Yummmmm!! MOCHI DONUTS: - Kin's mochi donuts are the perfect sweet treat. Moist and delicate with a chewy mochi texture, even the simple cinnamon sugar donuts are sometimes the first to sell out. Beyond that staple, the rotating flavors are inventive and fun. I'm waiting patiently on the return of the Thai Tea and Berries & Cream flavors! BRIOCHE DONUTS - Available only on weekends, these are a HIT! The mango sticky rice brioche donut is incredibly memorable. It's a real sensory journey from the brightness of the mango to hints of coconut cream and a pleasant sugared texture. A couple helpful notes: - drinks have oat milk default - the matcha latte is 6 grams. you can adjust grams as desired--if you are sensitive to caffeine like me, I've found 4 grams to be perfect. - donuts and cafe specials sell out! monitor their instagram @kinbakeshop to see the daily flavors and cafe specials and plan your visit for earlier in the day if you can :) - the line is worth it. trust. My go-to order: - Matcha Einspanner with whole milk, 4 grams of matcha Swing by Kin and let the magic unfold. Enjoy! read more

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Cuuuuuute interior with great service and good drinks. And yes, it's a bakeshop but I did not end up getting any food lol. I got here a few minutes before opening and there was already a line waiting outside. Once open, it moved pretty quickly and the person working the register even offers hot tea to sip on while waiting-a nice touch! Baristas from the back walk the drinks out to you and I appreciate that anything with a cream top is served with a little spoon. If I lived closer, I would definitely be a regular! read more

Kin Bakeshop - banana matcha cream top & jasmine oat latte - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Actually one of the best matchas I've ever had. I got the Matcha Einspanner and it was so creamy and delicious. The line was out the door but the service was top-notch. One of the owners gave us a free sample of tea while we waited. Overall, this place has an incredibly nice vibe to it and I can't wait to return when I'm back in the area. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Matcha Einspanner - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

11 out of 10. A go-to in SB! My boyfriend and I went here several days in a row while in SB. We somehow got there each time without needing to wait in line and only noticed a line forming shortly after ordering or while we ordered. It definitely goes by quickly from what we saw. Service is so welcoming and kind. There's seating along the walls and a bathroom. Our favorites were definitely the Matcha Einspanner and Double Matcha. The donuts were so light & not too sweet. We have no notes. I will definitely try to recreate the Matcha Einspanner at home. To note - it's located in a plaza so parking is easy. Recommend going on a weekday if you don't want to wait in line though either way it's so worth it. read more

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MOST DEFINITELY WORTH THE WAIT. They really crank out the orders even when the line is out the door so give them some grace and get yourself these delicious lattes. I love the simplicity of the location, being able to order and get your drinks in no more than 5 minutes. The matcha, hochija, and espresso were divine!!! So flavorful and the perfect amount of sweetness. The cream was creamy and complimented everything perfectly. I wish I could come everyday. There is so many more yummy drinks to try! read more

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One of my absolute favorite coffee shops! I've commuted multiple multiple times from LA for their donuts & matcha/coffee and have never once had a bad experience. The staff is always so welcoming and accommodating. The Strawberry Matcha (I think..) defaultly comes with oat milk as a heads up. It's not overly sweet and is the perfect size! My recent favorite is the Black Sesame Cream Top. It's not completely over sweetened and you're still able to taste the espresso! Try to get there earlier than later as they do tend to sell out pretty quickly, especially on weekends. read more

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Made a pit stop in Santa Barbara for some refreshments at Kin Bakeshop. This place seemed to be quite popular with the locals and college students. They were busy, but the young female that helped me was super sweet and helpful. Got their Matcha Einspanner. If you like matcha, this is for you. It was a cold, but not iced matcha(strong) latte topped with a dense layer of sweetened whipped cream. The staff told me to eat a bit of the cream first then sip on the matcha for the whole experience. Usually, I mix my drinks into oblivion (lol), but I'm glad I didn't this time around. Also got their strawberry sando sandwich too, but I ate it before taking a pic. Sorry! If you've had it before then it's basically what you think it is. If not, it's thick cream with sliced strawberries hugged by sweet, buttery soft bread. Very yummy! Decor was minimalist style. There's couch and low tables to sit at. I like that they have a clean restroom available as well. read more

Kin Bakeshop - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Loved this cafe! One of the best matcha and hojichas I've had in central coast Located in plaza so easy parking. Busy spot so be prepared to wait in line for a while. We got a mango calamansi and cinnamon sugar mochi donut. Loved the citrus tang icing on the mango calamansi donut; texture was amazing and super fresh mochi donut. We ordered the following drinks: - matcha einspanner -- super strong matcha taste; so smooth and loved the cold foam top! So goooood - hojicha black sesame -- loved the nutty flavor profile of the black sesame cream on top with the hojicha milk Both drinks were so good! So worth the wait. Cute cafe with booth seating; packed inside so we found a seat towards back with bar seating style! read more

Kin Bakeshop - Mango calamansi and cinnamon sugar mochi donut - Donuts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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First time at Kin Bakeshop and I finally tried the matcha einspanner, it was such a good balance of earthy matcha and sweetness, super delicious. My favorite drink, though, was the Thai tea.. it was so good I came back just for that the next day. The mochi donuts were just okay for me, however I wish they had been a little fresher. I actually liked it enough to come back the very next day and ordered again, this time trying the banana matcha, which was tasty too. Heads up: there's usually a line, but it moves pretty fast. They keep their Instagram updated with what's in stock and current wait times, super helpful if you don't want to miss out on popular flavors. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

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I visited Kin Bakeshop and was blown away. Hands down, this is the best matcha I've ever had--smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. The ube mochi muffins were incredibly chewy and flavorful, and the Valentine's passion fruit mochi donuts were a wonderful treat--light, unique, and not too sweet. Everything was fresh, creative, and clearly made with care. read more

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