This is yet another impressive tea from Red Leaf Tea!   This tea is similar to the Golden Calabash tea from Red Leaf Tea that I recently reviewed, but there are differences, and I feel that this tea is so good that it merits its own review.

Just like the calabashes, the fragrance of these stars is very subtle.  The brewed tea takes on a slightly more prominent aroma, but, it is still quite soft.  And also like the calabashes, the brewed tea is very pale in color.

However, unlike the calabashes, the handcrafted (and sewn) Golden Stars do not open.  They have been tightly sewn (you can see the strands of thread on these beautifully shaped tea leaves), and the thread does not loosen to allow the leaves to unfurl completely.  You can remove the thread, and you will be left with a pile of wet tea leaves that look similar to the unfurled calabashes.

But, that doesn’t really matter.  When it comes right down to it, what really matters is the flavor of the tea, and this tea tastes remarkable!   There is a buttery overtone to this tea – smooth, rich and decadent! – and sweet, floral undertones that linger in the finish.  The floral notes are only the slightest bit sharp, but not at all unpleasant.  Rather, they provide a delightful contrast to the buttery smooth characteristic of this tea.

Red Leaf Tea describes this tea as

From our new selection of Handcrafted Teas, we proudly offer our customers this poetic images of pure tea flavor. When the Chinese poet wrote his songs of tea, surely he had these starry shapes in mind! Woven by villagers of Yunnan Province into exquisite designs of stars, this tea brews into a pale and extremely light liquor. Try our Golden Star Green Tea as a dessert brew, or an early morning drink. Perfect for tea ceremonies, your friends and family will love the effect of sipping on the liquor of the stars!

This tea has a very satisfying mouthfeel and a delicate sweetness, and does not seem to get bitter, no matter how long I brew it!  I left it brewing for about 8 minutes during the first infusion, and the tea did not reveal even the slightest hint of bitterness… in fact, the longer it brews, the smoother, sweeter, and richer the flavor becomes!

I used three stars for an 8 ounce cup of tea, and those three stars provide three very flavorful infusions.  There is a natural sweetness to this tea, so you want to be careful if you choose to add anything to it, as you might overwhelm it.  Instead, I recommend enjoying this hot and without any additions.  It is even deliciously sweet enough to be a dessert tea (as the above description by Red Leaf Tea suggests).   This is truly a very enchanting cup of tea!