Steeping instructions:

Amount of water: 6 oz

Amount of Tea: 1 Flat teaspoon

Water Temperature: 160° F

Steeping Time: 1-3 minutes.

Note: Do not use boiling water for Green and White teas as they will burn and create bitter flavors.

A good way to guess water temperature without a thermometer is to bring the water to a boil, and wait about 30 seconds (for White tea) or 60 seconds (for Green tea) before pouring over the leaves.

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.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!

The Tea Guru (Stephanie)

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Golden Star is a uniquely-packaged tea from the good folks at Red Leaf tea. This is a handmade tea that is arranged into shapes that resemble starts, or perhaps blossoms. It appears that thin thread is used to keep the tea leaves together in their star-like shape. I imagine that even those that don’t drink tea can appreciate the time, talent, and probably patience, needed to make these little bundles. Golden Star is a green tea with origins in China’s Yunnan province. The dry star bundles have a very delicate aroma that is fresh and grain-like. I prepared a cup of this tea using 3 star bundles infused in 10oz of water. Whereas other hand-crafted teas, such as blooming teas, seem to open up more, these leaves were so tightly tied together, they hardly changed shape, even after two infusions. On one hand, this is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but on the other hand, I worried that not allowing the leaves to fully open might have affected the flavor of the tea. The liquid was a pale yellowish color with a subtle, earthy flavor. The grain-like component that came through in the aroma was also present, and most prominent, in the flavor as well. This flavor was a bit like the smell that comes from a box of Cheerios. This is a very delicate green tea that was not at all astringent or grassy. This tea could be a good choice for those that are trying to acquire a taste for green tea. The tea might also be a good tea for meals, since the flavor is not too strong. I was able to get two decent brews out of each set of three stars. I allowed the second infusion from my second set of stars to cool after brewing, and this drink was also tasty when taken as iced tea. In all, this is a mild and unassuming green tea with a unique presentation. I will certainly consider adding this to my shopping basket on my upcoming order from Red Leaf.

Jessica -AuthoriTea -Reviewer

Golden Star is a uniquely-packaged tea from the good folks at Red Leaf tea. This is a handmade tea that is arranged into shapes that resemble starts, or perhaps blossoms. It appears that thin thread is used to keep the tea leaves together in their star-like shape. I imagine that even those that don’t drink tea can appreciate the time, talent, and probably patience, needed to make these little bundles. Golden Star is a green tea with origins in China’s Yunnan province. The dry star bundles have a very delicate aroma that is fresh and grain-like. I prepared a cup of this tea using 3 star bundles infused in 10oz of water. Whereas other hand-crafted teas, such as blooming teas, seem to open up more, these leaves were so tightly tied together, they hardly changed shape, even after two infusions. On one hand, this is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but on the other hand, I worried that not allowing the leaves to fully open might have affected the flavor of the tea. The liquid was a pale yellowish color with a subtle, earthy flavor. The grain-like component that came through in the aroma was also present, and most prominent, in the flavor as well. This flavor was a bit like the smell that comes from a box of Cheerios. This is a very delicate green tea that was not at all astringent or grassy. This tea could be a good choice for those that are trying to acquire a taste for green tea. The tea might also be a good tea for meals, since the flavor is not too strong. I was able to get two decent brews out of each set of three stars. I allowed the second infusion from my second set of stars to cool after brewing, and this drink was also tasty when taken as iced tea. In all, this is a mild and unassuming green tea with a unique presentation. I will certainly consider adding this to my shopping basket on my upcoming order from Red Leaf.

Vanessa - Teaviews.com - Reviewer

Woven green tea

• Green Tea
• Health Benefits of Green tea
• Process of growing and making tea
• Tea History