7542 v. 8582

[TIM]

Hello everyone, currently debating on getting a tong of either a 2008 8582 or a 7542. I actually have not had these teas from these years except for one go with the 8582 which all I remember is that it was good. I was just wondering if anyone could offer some guidance to which one is better or preferred. I have always gone under the assumption that the 7542 is better, but that could just be me.

Have not tried either ones.

But I'd place my bet on one 90s 7542 or 8582 than to buy an entire tong of 2008 production.

Cheers!

+1

[drumhum]

My fuzzy brain is telling me the the third number is a sort of grading of the tea. That is, 75 and 85 being the recipe, then 3 or 4 etc the grade, then 2...erm (?).Am I wrong?

I'm just thinking that a 7532 is a higher grade to the 7542 and likewise a 7542 is higher than an 8582. A 7532 is "better" tea than a 7542.

I find the 7542 to be more punchy brew compared to the 8582. Perhaps its down to the 42's more compacted form (and so typically more youthful for a given year, in comparison), but I can't help feeling its down to the more choice leaves. The higher grade stuff giving more. The 8582 does taste somewhat "turned down" to me. Thats not to say I love it though.

Obviously its all about taste and constitutes for "better" taste is a personal thing. But its perhaps useful to consider the grade when trying to make a decision. I'd always go for the better grade of tea if I didn't know better, or had nothing else to go on.

[AdamMY]

Obviously its all about taste and constitutes for "better" taste is a personal thing. But its perhaps useful to consider the grade when trying to make a decision. I'd always go for the better grade of tea if I didn't know better, or had nothing else to go on.

I almost feel better grade is for ideal looks, and possibly a better taste when young. But I've read a lot, like on Puerh.net that give the impression that the higher grade (lower "quality") leaf ages better.

[shogun89]

Hopgoblin to the rescue! I just read his post today, and I believe it pertains to your reasoning quite well. Its the first post about the '98 8582. I highly suggest giving it a read!
http://ancientteahorseroad.blogspot.com/
Thanks Hop!

[tenuki]

My fuzzy brain is telling me the the third number is a sort of grading of the tea. That is, 75 and 85 being the recipe, then 3 or 4 etc the grade, then 2...erm (?).Am I wrong?

I believe you are correct - the 2 is the factory number. there is also a 'batch' number elsewhere, like 801, 802, etc, that is the 2008 (or 1998, 1988, etc) year and the 01, or 02 ,etc batch of that particular tea.

the wiki entry for puerh tea has all the same info along with a list of the factories commonly reffered to.

I have a couple of older (15y+) cakes that are grade 2 and I rather like them, for whatever that is worth. They are sweet, subtle and complex, very refined. Probably some of the 'extreme sport' style tasters on this forum who like their puerh tasting like week old tennis shoes, horse sweat and fresh cow manure wouldn't like them though.

I do agree that the grade of the leaves is a bit misleading in terms of what will age will or taste good now even.

[odarwin]

Hello everyone, currently debating on getting a tong of either a 2008 8582 or a 7542. I actually have not had these teas from these years except for one go with the 8582 which all I remember is that it was good. I was just wondering if anyone could offer some guidance to which one is better or preferred. I have always gone under the assumption that the 7542 is better, but that could just be me.

Have not tried either ones.

But I'd place my bet on one 90s 7542 or 8582 than to buy an entire tong of 2008 production.

Cheers!

+1

Hopgoblin to the rescue! I just read his post today, and I believe it pertains to your reasoning quite well. Its the first post about the '98 8582. I highly suggest giving it a read!
http://ancientteahorseroad.blogspot.com/
Thanks Hop!

a late 90s 8582 cake is going for a little less than $100 in hong kong right now.
if any of you have the chance, i think its worth it to buy.
i personally have tasted this tea, having bought a 100g sample in hong kong myself, plus samples here and there from friends, its very nice. it does have slight honey/menthol taste and comfortable qi.

[wyardley]

My understanding is that "grade" with pu'er refers to the leaf size and not necessarily to the quality of the tea, i.e., a "high" grade isn't inherently better than a "low" grade. Also, a 7542 is not necessarily *only* grade 4 leaves... it could have leaves of other sizes mixed in (especially grade 3 + 5), but would be primarily grade 4.

Someone told me that with certain recipes, the third digit *doesn't* directly indicate the size of the leaves.

The last number is the factory number, btw.

[ghengiskun]

I've thought the thought, read the talk, and finally walked the walk by myself. I've ordered a tong of 7542 802 (2008). Got it yesterday from Scott and right now I am sampling the tea. My experiences with old sheng pu and with aging is next to none, so I can compare only with the other young teas in my growing collection. I really like the crude taste of young pu though, so you can't hear me complaining .

Anyway, I really like this tea very much. The first 1-2 brews are pretty astringent, but after that the tea starts behaving nicely and the lingering sweetness is the best one I've tasted so far. I can't tell how nicely it will age, but won't mind finding it by myself. If it will last that long...

[shogun89]

A good buy indeed! I have 4 of the 901 7542's on hand, and have 5 802 8582's with other various cakes on their way for my birthday, cant wait!

[braven]

WHAT IN THE WORLD DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN!

[AdamMY]

WHAT IN THE WORLD DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN!

How bout you cut the caps, and check out the puerh sticky post.

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7054

It might take some reading, but its all worthwhile information if you want to talk about puerh semi knowledgeably

[oldmanteapot]

WHAT IN THE WORLD DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN!

How bout you cut the caps, and check out the puerh sticky post.

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7054

It might take some reading, but its all worthwhile information if you want to talk about puerh semi knowledgeably

+1 Agreed.

[drumhum]

WHAT IN THE WORLD DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN!

It seems you are angry at your ignorance.

I'm surprised you have not grasped the meaning from this thread alone. 7542, 8582 etc is the name of the tea. Its written on the wrapper.

[nonc_ron]

7542 4th grade leaves
8582 8th grade leaves

[chrl42]

09 7542, 8582 are not like old days', by 04 many Menghai men resigned and went independent

You sure you have a patience for 10-golden-years not drinking but watching??