Help! Purchasing a Menghai 7542 Cake.

I’m not a big fan of Pu-Erh, hope this helps. Also try posting this question in this conversation that is always active,
http://steepster.com/discuss/5496-pu-erh-of-the-day-sheng-or-shou?page=38&post_id=121804

The top 4 ranked highest to lowest on Steepster:

1.)http://steepster.com/teas/the-essence-of-tea/10114-1996s-menghai-7532-orange-in-orange

2.) http://steepster.com/teas/the-essence-of-tea/10088-1993-menghai-7542

3.) http://steepster.com/teas/yunnan-sourcing/43404-2010-menghai-7542-raw

4.) http://steepster.com/teas/jas-etea/23737-2008-menghai-7542-802-raw

Listed below are reliable sellers. I’ve purchased from each of them a number of times over the past year. Several allow you to purchase samples before investing in puerh cakes – you might want to consider doing that. Spend some time looking around each sellers website and you’ll pick up quite a bit.

Not sure why you’re focusing on the Menghai Dayi 7542 but it is, of course, a well known Dayi raw (sheng) puerh cake. Many of us have found it easier to begin with the ripe (shou) puerhs. But as you can imagine, each journey to and through the world of puerh is unique (and very exciting by the way). Part of the excitement is that we’re all learning more and more each day and Steepster is a big help.

I’ve ordered multiple times from each of the online sellers listed below. Each is very reliable and I have had no problems. I picked up a 2010 7542 from JaseTea last July.

Berylleb King Tea http://stores.ebay.com/Berylleb-King-Tea

Shanghai story http://stores.ebay.com/ShanghaiStory

Dragon Tea House http://stores.ebay.com/Dragon-Tea-House

Royal Tea Bay http://stores.ebay.com/Royal-Tea-Bay

Mandala http://shopmandalatea.com/

Yunnan Sourcing (US or China)
http://www.yunnansourcing.us/store/
http://yunnansourcing.com/

Puerh Shop http://www.puerhshop.com/

JaseTea http://www.jas-etea.com/menghai-2010-7542-recipe/