It seems like most of the effort goes towards the vintage varieties, but with 20 years since 2000 I figure it would be good to have some tips on the new stuff as well. Do you have any tricks?
I first look to see if it has a QS code, shengchan/SC code, or no code. If it has a shengchan code, it is no older than 2015/2018 (there was a three-year grace period for moving to these codes). If it has a QS code, it is from 2005/2007 (two-year grace period, I think) to 2015/2018. If it has no code, it is older, or counterfeit.
If it has a "China Time-honored Brand" mark, I remember that Menghai/Taetea received theirs in 2011 and Xiaguan received theirs in 2010.
For Taetea, I feel like you can use the appearance of their anti-counterfeiting stamp to date the tea, but I am not sure...
Tips for dating modern pu'er
Verification of the date. For example, if I am told a tea is 10 years old, but the packaging has a shengchan code, something is strange, even if the date says 2010. Then it is better to ask, "How can this be?".
A good example from a blogger I follow:
The date of production is stated as 1999, yet other details on the packaging do not seem to fit.
A good example from a blogger I follow:
The date of production is stated as 1999, yet other details on the packaging do not seem to fit.
I understand. You are trying to eliminate fakes by first step , the wrong labeling ( which will reveals the label max. age ) .
If you are into this sort of tea hunting, DaYi has issued their company products identifiers. I don't remember to which year back the products are dating there but each book is also not cheap. I think I've seen something like 12 books.
Sometimes is also good to know something about the particular factory ( history ) , since goes trough some changes in leadership it also can change the name..etc. Unfortunately most of that info is available only in CN and sometimes even digging in the internet.
If you are into this sort of tea hunting, DaYi has issued their company products identifiers. I don't remember to which year back the products are dating there but each book is also not cheap. I think I've seen something like 12 books.
Sometimes is also good to know something about the particular factory ( history ) , since goes trough some changes in leadership it also can change the name..etc. Unfortunately most of that info is available only in CN and sometimes even digging in the internet.