2020 DaYi "7542" Cake 1st Batch 357g Puerh Sheng Cha Raw Tea, 1st Batch

The 7542 recipe was first created by DaYi (Menghai Tea Factory) in 1975. Built around grade 4 leaf blended with other grades, it gradually became the benchmark that raw puerh drinkers use to judge other sheng cakes.

Tea Profile

At a glance: 2020 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 357g cake · grade 4 leaf · Menghai Tea Factory · 1st batch

• Compression & dry leaf: The tea comes as a 357g cake. The leaf itself shows grade 4 leaf and visible buds.
• Liquor: In the cup it is golden yellow, as is usual for young sheng.
• Taste: Once the leaf opens up, expect fruity notes in a sweet cup. Each round shows a slightly different side of it.
• Mouthfeel & body: The texture is full-bodied.
• Aftertaste: The aftertaste brings a returning sweetness (hui gan) and a long finish.
• Best for: improving your tea experience. Brew it attentively and follow how it changes; a natural step up for a first-time puerh drinker 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.

• Small dark specks: tiny dark specks may appear on the wrapper or cake edges of naturally stored puerh. They are harmless and can be brushed off before brewing.
• 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.