大益 Dayi 7552

Dayi 7552 is the flagship shu recipe from Menghai Tea Factory — the brand that defined modern ripe pu-erh production in the 1970s. This is Batch 2101, pressed in 2021, dry-stored in Kunming since leaving the factory. The 7552 uses grade 5 Menghai leaves, a notch finer than most factory shu blends, with a portion of semi-aged material built in so the tea drinks cleanly from day one without the rough edge that fresh shu sometimes shows. The recipe has been in continuous production since the late 1970s and is considered alongside the 7572 as one of the two benchmark shu cakes that every serious collector knows. Batch 2101 drinks noticeably cleaner and more refined than entry-level ripe pu-erh at the same price point. The liquor is deep reddish-brown and clear. In the cup: dark chocolate, dried dates, a soft cocoa finish and a naturally sweet aftertaste. Mouthfeel is smooth and coating — no astringency, no fermentation off-notes. This is a cake you can open now and also set aside for another five years — it only improves. Worldwide delivery.