Saturday with Friends

A late start for a Saturday ..13:30 we head off:
Paulo, Dave, Matt + friend and myself.
Betty was busy with banking and apartment moving etc, so it was just 5 for a late lunch.
By 16:30 we arrive, Mrs.Yang’s tea shop.
We meet up with the owner of the ”DVD” store we frequent ..he is long time fiend of Mrs.Yang and fellow tea addict. This day, for me, underscored the need to find folks you trust to do business with.
DVD store .. Dave has been shopping there for 6+ years, me about 4. Outwardly this is, “typical” Copy DVD store, the difference, integrity of staff and owner. I’ve had staff tell me “Don’t buy this, you bought it last week, just a different cover” Return a defective disk.. money back / replacement or different DVD-CD, your choice. It’s been like this since day one.
At one point there was 10 of us enjoying tea and chit chat.We get around to finding more of the elusive 1994 Shupu. With the store busy I get to rummaging through; shelves, cabinets and hidden corners. (much to amusement of the local customers)
With some luck I find, not one, but three cakes of long lost 1994 shupu. With some fanfare, the customers show there approval of my find. I get two cakes for “old” price of 200 RMB. We split the other cake, ½ for me (no charge) ½ for Mrs. Yang. She will save it for when I come back …
During the; searching – banter and tea drinking, Dave and Paulo discover a 2007 Shu. We taste sample brews over a period of an hour. Dave and I each buy a Tong (7 Cakes: 500 RMB)2007 Minghai Shu 7572, lets check back in a few years.
Explanation of numerical code:
The code 7572, "75" means this recipe was first used in 1975. (pre Y2K)
"7" refers to the special "Blend/Mix" of raw leaves used used in this cake.
"2", refers to the tea factory. "2" = Meng Hai Tea Factory.
NOTE: the many many variables between batches:
Cake compression, weather and drying conditions (natural sun dry or wood fire assisted)
You must try the cake BEFORE you buy ... next year a 7572 will vary; "sub-par" or "better".