Phuer resin (Cha Gao, 茶膏, “tea paste”) is concentrated sublimated old phuer trees tea leaves. Cha Gao has been making in Yunnan province since ancient times, but it is rare product at the contemporary market. Also it is not spread in China due to its high price. Cha Gao is a pressed pill of sublimated tea leaves via hot method.
According to traditional technology cha gao is produced from phuer raw material (mao cha 普洱毛茶 – the raw material for sheng and shu phuers). The technology is quite complicated and requires high level experience. Fresh tea leaves are roasted in the metal pots on slow fire during 24 hours. 100 kg of high quality raw material are used to produce 0.8 up to 1 kg of Cha Gao.
According to the contemporary technology Cha Gao is produced by squeezing tea leaves and getting tea “juice” at the temperature not exceeding 40°С. It is similar to the Sung dynasty technology. So it becomes 2% of dry final product of total tea leaves weight. The tea paste is absolutely melts in hot or cold water and well stored at room temperature. Cha Gao can be stored for 20 years no loosing properties. There are some white powder at some sorts of Cha Gao, because of the tanning substance crystallizing.
Chinese traditional medicine considers Cha Gao one of the most efficient essences of tea leaf which is powerful source of energy and perfect prophylactic from many diseases.
Cha Gao is easy to infuse. Take 1 piece of Cha Gao for 0.5 liters of water (2-3 pills for 1 litres of water). Cha Gao infuses once because it melts totally.
The Cha Gao taste is unusual for phuer, it is soft with no bitterness. It has strong tonic effect, especially in high concentration. It is not suitable for pregnant women and for children. Be careful with this product especially if you have some heart troubles and be aware of contradiction of tea taking. It is tea sublimate and its effect much stronger then of tea.
Don’t take Cha Gao more then twice a day.
