2017 DaYi "7542" Cake 1st Batch 357g Puerh Sheng Cha Raw Tea

Video: unwrapping and breaking down the cake

Here is "7542" from DaYi, a 2017 sheng (raw) puerh in a 357g cake.

Tea Profile

At a glance: 2017 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 357g cake · grade 4 leaf · Menghai Tea Factory · 1st batch

• Compression & dry leaf: This tea is sold as a 357g cake. The dry leaf shows grade 4 leaf, visible buds and large, robust leaves.
• Liquor: In the cup it is typically golden to amber at this stage.
• Taste: The middle steeps bring out a fruity character, with a sweet and rich taste. Its layers unfold gradually over the session.
• Mouthfeel & body: In the mouth it feels full-bodied.
• Aftertaste: It leaves a returning sweetness (hui gan).
• Best for: improving your tea experience. Brew it attentively and follow how it changes; a natural step up for a newcomer who wants to go further.

Brewing Guide

• Water: fully boiling, 100°C (212°F).
• Steps:
  1. Add tea (about 5g per 100ml).
  2. Rinse once: cover the leaves with boiling water for about 5 seconds, then discard. Put the lid on and let the leaves rest for about 10 minutes to open up.
  3. Steep for 10–15 seconds for the first rounds, adding about 5 seconds each round.
  4. Pour into a sharing pitcher.
  5. Serve. Sheng puerh resteeps well for many rounds.
• Treat these as starting points rather than fixed rules. Try high or low pours, fast or slow, and brew in different seasons to find the method that suits you. Brewing the same tea well in any year, season, weather or place takes practice, and that skill is the real goal.

Storage

Keep the cake ventilated, cool and dry, away from sunlight and strong odors (kitchen spices, smoke). For long-term aging, paper or clay containers breathe better than sealed plastic.

A Note on Appearance

Not every cake shows these, but they can occur, especially in teas with more years of storage.

• Bamboo powder (zhu fen): a natural sign of traditional bamboo-husk packing. In Guangdong's warm, humid climate, tiny bamboo insects can make their home in the husk, nibbling the husk and cotton paper wrapper while leaving the tea itself untouched. What they leave behind is a fine powder, seen only on certain teas and more often on aged ones. It is harmless to hygiene; a few strokes with a clean toothbrush or soft brush before brewing is all it takes.
• Tea oil spots: yellowish spots may appear and can come from natural tea oils. They are not a flaw.
• Torn wrapper: small tears or holes in the cotton paper may happen during storage and handling. The tea inside is unaffected.