Distinguishing between fake and real 2008 Menghai 7572 801

[MarshalN]

The problem with the yearbooks is that they don't always include all the variations on a particular cake, so sometimes they are not 100% reliable.

The best way to tell is not to look at the wrapper, because wrappers can be faked easily without problem, and also, even the way they wrap or what not can be faked quite easily, if you know what you're doing. The way to tell is to look at the cake itself, including how the leaves are distributed, how they look, the edge of the cake, the back indentation.... those are the real clues and are really hard to replicate.

[GongFu]

Ok, stupid newbie question: I thought the first digits represented the year it was made? How is there a 7572 if its 2008?

[wyardley]

Ok, stupid newbie question: I thought the first digits represented the year it was made? How is there a 7572 if its 2008?

It represents the first year that recipe was made, not the year the tea was produced in.

The year is (sort of) encoded with the batch number; i.e., batch 801 would be 2008,1998, 1988, or 1975... it's hoped that you can figure out which one based on how the tea looks / tastes.

As I understand it, the system wasn't made to be easily understandable, as it was mostly used among factories and merchants.

[cha-fu]

The problem with the yearbooks is that they don't always include all the variations on a particular cake, so sometimes they are not 100% reliable.

The best way to tell is not to look at the wrapper, because wrappers can be faked easily without problem, and also, even the way they wrap or what not can be faked quite easily, if you know what you're doing. The way to tell is to look at the cake itself, including how the leaves are distributed, how they look, the edge of the cake, the back indentation.... those are the real clues and are really hard to replicate.

+1

Sometimes Nei Fei (an embedded inner ticket) can be used for identification as well, of course, if there is one. It's difficult to embed a real Nei Fei onto a fake cake, unless with serious effort. Tea cakes without Nei Fei are not necessary fake. It's just more difficult to identify them.

[zhi zheng]

I'll get a photo of the back of the wrapper, though I'm sure plenty of people hav'em.

I would agree absolutely with MarshalN. The wrapper and all its particulars can't be that hard to fake. Of course, if someone cant make a serious effort to fake the wrapper, they're probably not going to bother too much about the tea, but if one can't tell by looking at the tea it's probably not worth worrying about!

Lot's of stuff in China is 'fake'. I've got a fake Vacheron Constantin, but it looks nice and works ok! So why worry

[zhi zheng]

This isn't fail-safe but..........



Here are a couple of wrappers from after 2006 when they started sticking the label on the back.

And here are a couple of earlier wrappers - pre 2004. There are apparently a few different styles of this kind of wrapping.



My neighbour worked for Dayi for 20 years and sells their tea in her shop. She seems fairly sure that the wrapping style is an important component in verification but, not surprisingly, says proof of the pudding is in the 'you know where'.

I asked her if she had any fake tea so I could compare the wrappers. She said she had a tong (so didn't want to open it) of 'fake' Dayi that a friend had given her. She said "It's good tea." ..."Sometimes the fake tea is better than Dayi."

[chrl42]

She said "It's good tea." ..."Sometimes the fake tea is better than Dayi."

That sounds fake but I heard that happens rarey too, ONLY in China

Thanks for the pics BTW

[MarshalN]

@zhizheng -- the top pre-2004 back looks a little suspect to me. The bottom one looks more like the genuine article.

[zhi zheng]

Could well be - I'm certainly no expert on Dayi! As I mentioned before, our neighbor worked for Dayi for a long time and seems to know her bacon, but....

[zhi zheng]

"ONLY in China"
I wouldn't be at all sure about that!

[nicolas]

Thanks Nicolas,
Luckily I've never bought any 7572.
Let us know if you hear of more counterfeit Pu-erhs.
1+

Here is the sequel: http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=12141