Rasseru said

'classic' puerh cakes I should try? (from the big companies)

Ive got a xiaguan 8673 & ive heard good things about the 8653, also Golden Needle White Lotus.

I was wondering if there are other classic names or numbers (especially if cheap from the bigger companies) that have stood the test of time or achieved some kind of legendary status because of how good they are?

I’m drinking a 2006 8673 recipe now and its camphor and spice and aged, a bit woody – not my fave but for the price you cant go wrong if only to try it

37 Replies
boychik said
Rasseru said

nice one boychik

Login or sign up to post a message.

mrmopar said

The third letter in the number blends is the leaf grade. Number ! is the smallest and ( the biggest. Small leaves are a bit more dainty and the 9 size can be and sizes. The last number is the factory that produced it.
Menghai 8592 can be a good one for a good price. The HaiWan 7578 and the 908’s can be good as well. The CNNP 7581 can be good if you find one made in 2006 or before. The quality suffered after that.

Rasseru said

thanks mrmopar, this makes pu hunting fun

bozisuk said

Thanks for the information mrmopar! I had no idea that the numbers stood for anything. Do the first two numbers simply denote the type or mix of pu-erh?

mrmopar said

First 2 numbers are the year that the blend was made in. An example would be a Menghai 7542
(75) first year of blend
(4) leaf size
(2) Menghai tea factory.
All the number cakes/ bricks use this coding system.

bozisuk said

That’s super interesting.

mrmopar said

Pretty easy once you know the codes.

bozisuk said

Yeah, it makes a lot of sense too. Once you know the codes you don’t even need to know the factory since it’s included in the code.

mrmopar said

There is an article about the factories and codes.
Here is a good site to visit. It has the factory coding in there somewhere I just can’t place where. You will have to run translation if you don’t speak French.
http://www.puerh.fr/en/article/

Login or sign up to post a message.

Rui A. said

Rasseru, talking about 7542. I have a sample coming your way in the next envelope. There is hardly any wet storage aroma your taste. Quite a clean tea. It is from 2005.

Rasseru said

Great! :)

Login or sign up to post a message.

AllanK said

I think that you should try the 2008 Song of Chi Tse ripe from Berylleb King Tea on EBay. This tea is among the best. It is unique in my opinion as it has virtually no fermentation flavor left. Most 2008 teas have not cleared. Usually you have to drink something 20 years old to drink a ripe that has cleared. And this has no storage taste that I remember either.

Rasseru said

i ordered one a couple of weeks back, it should be turning up pretty soon :)

bozisuk said

I have a sample of this that I’m saving for a free day to try! Looking forward to it with all the good recommendations.

Rasseru said

i thik im a bit tired of all the samples and want to buy some cakes. recently didnt buy a cake i liked because i bought samples instead just in case i liked them more to save in the long run. and theres always more samples

bozisuk said

Very true! Nice thing about cakes is that they’ll last. Just start building a collection. You can always try new stuff when you want :)

Login or sign up to post a message.

I’m a fan of the Menghai 7542 and 8582, fwiw.

Another thing to think about when looking at the basic recipes from Menghai is the batch number listed after the recipe (E.g. <801> for the first batch of 2008). The first batch is often thought superior to later ones, but I have several later batches that are good to my tastes.

Rasseru said

I have seen some with bracketed numbers on when looking yesterday

AllanK said

A 2008 batch 801 would be first batch, 802 would be second batch, etc. A 2009 would be 901, 902 etc. That is at least for Dayi products.

Rasseru said

Ive seen some like this: 2011 Menghai Tea Factory TaeTea (Dayi) Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake 7572 (Batch 103), 357g

and also with (FT) 7572 – does that denote ‘fermented tea’?

mrmopar said

FT designation, For Taiwan export. On the XiaGuan cakes.

AllanK said

Batch 103 would be the third batch of that year.

Rasseru said

ah thanks for the help guys! But what if they made four different blends in ’75 or was it generally one per year?

mrmopar said

Four blends I think. 7542, 7572, 7582 and 7562 if I recall correctly. Three cakes and one brick.

Rasseru said

but what if they made two recipes with size 6 leaf in the same year

mrmopar said

There could be two batches but as far as I can recall those are the only ones in 75 with the 6 grade leaf. They did expand later I think the 7762 with 6 grade leaf. Some of these blends have been around a long time.

Rasseru said

I just meant hypothetically, how would they number it if there were two? or is that where names came in

mrmopar said

There would probably be a new name or a second batch pressing.

Login or sign up to post a message.

Do you guys find that the bigger the leaf the thicker the mouth feel?

mrmopar said

Especially in shou.

boychik said

I love big leaf shou. So flavorful and lasts longer

Rasseru said

I didnt know this. great thread to learn stuff in

curlygc said

I never noticed that, but I tend to like smaller leaf/gongting shu. I mean, the kind of shu that the minute you pour boiling water on it, you’ve got a gaiwan full of dark red sweet creamy punch in the face. But maybe that’s just me.

Login or sign up to post a message.

AllanK said

If you haven’t tried at least one year’s production of Menghai Tea Factories’ Golden Needle White Lotus you should.

Rasseru said

I have and ive bought a cake

Login or sign up to post a message.

Lumpkin said

yes, try it

Login or sign up to post a message.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.