The Neifei of the seven-son cake is quite meaningful for identification. Why? Because the Neifei is buried inside the tea cake and stays with it throughout. Unless someone intentionally digs out the Neifei and attaches it to another cake, or someone reprints it based on such a Neifei and remakes the cake, it is only then possible for the product to be misrepresented.

Regarding Neifei, Taiwanese tea enthusiasts have invented many terms, such as: Pointed-out Artistic Fly, Xishuangbanna Fly, Bold Script Artistic Fly, as well as Flat-out Artistic Script Fly, Flat-out Artistic Script Vermilion Red, Flat-out Artistic Script Pigment Red, and thin paper, thick paper, etc. There are numerous terms. Generally speaking, in one type of Neifei, the three dots in the character "州" (state) in the phrase "西双版纳自治州" (Xishuangbanna Autonomous Prefecture) on the bottom two lines face the same direction. In another type, the first dot faces a different direction from the other two. We call the one with all three dots facing the same direction "Fine Script Pointed-out Artistic Fly," and the one with one dot different "Xishuangbanna Fly." The Xishuangbanna Fly originated from the 73 Green Cake, appearing in the mid-1980s, while others appeared before it, possibly from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s. After the mid-1980s, the Bold Script Artistic Fly seven-son cake appeared, with very obvious characteristics: the font of the bottom two lines is bold script, the character "出" (out) is still pointed-out, but the top "山" (mountain) and bottom "山" in the character "出" are not well aligned, leaning slightly to one side. Also, the vertical and horizontal strokes in the character "州" in "西双版纳自治州" are staggered.

It is necessary to remind everyone that good tea must have its corresponding price. If we buy a Fine Script Pointed-out Artistic Fly at a very cheap price, the possibility of buying a fake is high. If the character "州" is in bold script, and the two "山" in the character "出" are not very symmetrical, we call it a Bold Script Artistic Fly. Based on currently verifiable tea samples, this bold script artistic font appeared approximately from the mid-1980s to the late 1980s. Next appeared the so-called "Flat-out," where the two "山" in the character "出" in "出品" (product) are symmetrical and look the same, called Flat-out Neifei. From the information I have seen, this lasted from the 1980s to the mid-1990s. Starting from the mid-1990s when the font on the packaging paper changed to square Ming style, the Neifei inside became chaotic, especially in the late 1990s. The packaging paper came in various colors, and the Neifei inside also came in various colors, with both simplified and traditional characters, and various fonts. By this time, Neifei lost much of its significance for identification. Although the above seems like tedious textual research, and it was not intentionally done that way at the time, because it is closely related to the historical conditions, printing technology, paper technology, etc., of that era, comprehensive consideration of these characteristics is still very helpful for identifying counterfeits.

Buying tea is not about buying the packaging, nor is it about buying that Neifei; tea is ultimately for drinking. Even if the packaging paper is correct, and it is genuinely that old tea, and even a tea well-regarded by the market, if you drink it and simply don't like how it feels, I suggest you still not buy it. Conversely, if you drink it and like it, then the significance of the vintage becomes less important. All identification methods based on the external packaging of seven-son cakes are actually auxiliary. In the end, you must drink it yourself. If you drink it and like it, and it meets hygiene conditions without causing any physical discomfort, then this cake of tea is most suitable for you. As for those vintages, those periodizations, those very professional terms, and even the tea prices, etc., there is no need to be overly attached!

Pu-erh tea has no distinction between true and false, but there is a difference between superior and inferior. Because market demands vary and consumer levels differ, there are many grades and varieties of Pu-erh tea products on the market, with significant price differences. Pu-erh tea enthusiasts can make purchases based on their own consumption capacity and should not blindly follow trends. Moreover, there are cases of Pu-erh tea being counterfeited or artificially aged. The main methods of forgery involve using wet storage to speed up the aging process of raw tea, creating so-called "aged old tea," or making the tea packaging look old to appear aged. Given that the authentication of the genuineness and quality of aged Pu-erh tea is extremely difficult for ordinary consumers, to avoid being deceived, it is recommended that everyone buy a small amount first and taste more when purchasing. Because Pu-erh teas from different manufacturers have differences in flavor, it must suit your own taste. After purchase, seek advice from knowledgeable people or invite them to taste it together.