Video: unwrapping and breaking down the cake
A 2007 ripe (shou) puerh from DaYi: "7572", offered as a 357g cake.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2007 · Ripe (shou/shu) puerh · 357g cake · mainly grade 7 leaf, blended with other grades · Menghai Tea Factory · batch 701
- Compression & dry leaf: The tea comes as a 357g cake. The dry leaf shows mainly grade 7 leaf, visible buds and large, robust leaves.
- Liquor: In the cup it shows a red color.
- Taste: The first infusions are mellow. Through the middle infusions it shows a floral and fruity character over a balanced base. Each round shows a slightly different side of it.
- Mouthfeel & body: Expect a thick, smooth, silky mouthfeel.
- Aftertaste: A gentle sweetness usually stays after each cup.
- Best for: improving your tea experience. Brew it attentively and follow how it changes; a natural step up for a beginner who wants to go further.
Brewing Guide
- Water: fully boiling, 100°C (212°F).
- How to brew:
- Add around 5g of tea for every 100ml.
- Give the leaves two quick rinses — cover with boiling water for about 5 seconds and discard. Then put the lid on and leave the leaves to open up for about 10 minutes.
- Start with 10–15 second steeps, lengthening by about 5 seconds each round.
- Pour the liquor into a sharing pitcher.
- Serve and resteep — ripe puerh goes many rounds.
- Think of this as a starting point rather than a rigid method. Try pouring high or low, fast or slow, and adapt to the season until it suits you. Brewing one tea at its best in any year, season, weather or place is a skill built over time — and that is the real goal.
Storage
Keep it in a ventilated, cool, dry spot, shielded from sunlight and strong odors (cooking spices, cigarette smoke). If you plan to age it long-term, paper or clay containers breathe better than airtight plastic.
A Note on Appearance
Not all cakes develop these — the chances simply rise with longer storage.
- Small dark specks: naturally stored puerh can develop tiny dark specks on its wrapper or edges. They are harmless and brush off easily before brewing.
- Tea oil spots: yellowish spotting can occur from natural tea oils. This is not a flaw.
- Torn wrapper: minor tears or holes in the cotton wrapper sometimes happen in storage and transit. The tea itself is unaffected.
