www.alphadictionary.com

1. Excessively and objectionably sentimental. See Synonyms at sentimental.

2. Sickening or insipid in taste.

I am not saying this now from any mawkish kind of remorse.

At Heidelberg I met a fat veterinary surgeon whose voice broke with sobs as he repeated some mawkish poetry.

While I know this word, I'd forgotten it, perhaps in favor of maudlin. However, being maudlin usually implies a touch of alcohol is involved, whereas mawkish doesn't.

From Old English mawk = maggot.

I assume that maggots have a nauseating taste.

I certainly would not recommend tasting them. So just
continue to "assume".