Starry Night

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Water: 1 zarafina cup
Tool: Zarafina black-loose-medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate, nut, tea, something else I can’t identify
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet black tea
Flavor: astringent, nutty, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, a touch bitter
Liquor: translucent dark reddish-brown

There was not high star frequency in the tin. I think 1/3 of my cups may get one? So the picture is a bit misleading.

The taste however is smooth and very pleasant. I very much enjoyed this tea.

I did not pick up the vanilla, I think my taste buds need a reset / recalibration :( I have been missing it while MilitiaJim has been spotting it lately.

I prepared this while running around getting ready for work. I have been trying to wake up early enough to review one tea each day before work, but I am not a morning person. Thank goodness for the zarafina, it takes care of the tea while I work on packing lunch and everything else.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar
Sweet tea, hint of nuts and coco

I took a few sips and then went back to getting ready for work.

Resteep: Zarafina black-loose-medium
I started this immediately after pouring the first steep off. The second steep was the same as the first steep, after assessing this I then mixed the two together into my travel mug and then ran to the train.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/jade-teapot-loose-leaf-black-tea-starry.html

I received 6 samples today…this is my first attempt. I DID have 1 star in mine. I have enough for 2 cups so I am starting out with the star in the first cup! I don’t think it smells like vanilla as others have mentioned. Mine seems to be a more wet-wood smell with something Unidentifiable. BUT…it does TASTE like vanilla. I can also taste the black tea and a hint of the white, I suppose, but barely there, really. It’s dark brown in color and a very even taste. I like it just fine. I would probably put this in my stash for stand-bye’s – if I had more than 1 cup left. Yup! This is pretty good.

My sample was starless too! :(

But even with its lack of stars, the black tea itself is yummy. It tastes very vanilla-creamy, almost like a buttermint! There is a woodsy, smoky aftertaste that is not unpleasant and seems to add some depth.

Very, very smooth. With little astringency and only a hint of bitterness. An exceptional tea to enjoy with something sweet at breakfast—preferably french toast with lots of cinnamon (freshly grated), butter and maple syrup!

But -1 because of absent stars!

I feel Erin’s pain. My sample didn’t have any stars either, and that was the main reason I wanted to try this. I wanted to see the stars.

That said, this is quite tasty. The tea base is smooth and deep, almost a little chocolatey. The vanilla is substantial and rich, and smells and tastes natural and of high quality. I have a number of vanilla flavored teas at the moment and I may readjust the rating after I try more, but so far if I was to order one of the teas I sampled from The Jade Teapot, it would either be this or the White Peach. Right now I’m thinking more likely this, simply because it’s an oil painting of a tea.

This was a free sample from The Jade Teapot. It sounded lovely, and I was intrigued by the idea of the star shaped white tea. My sample didn’t have any stars : (

I took this plain, without milk or sugar. I can smell the vanilla in this very strongly. Something also smells faintly of smoke.

This is quite nice. I can taste the Assam as well as the vanilla. I also get a hint of something fruity, like a very light tangerine. It really is a soothing tea.

Jade Teapot sample

Zarafina brewed at the black/loose/strong setting

Smells divine – the vanilla blends into the tea base aroma beautifully.

I drank it with milk and sweetner, my personal preference for the darker teas, and it was lovely. No bitterness, full mouth-taste, and the flavor of the vanilla blended well with the milk.

Lovely tea. A mellow, soothing tea.

Smells strongly of vanilla. I’m not a fan of vanilla but this one wasn’t artificial so I didn’t mind. It was a soothing cup, just not my favorite. Those who like vanilla may want to try this.