Cha Gao, also known as Pu Erh resin, tea paste, is not tea, but a concentrate of tea tree leaves. Making such a paste is quite a labor-intensive job: tea leaves are boiled in a cauldron for more than 24 hours with constant stirring and at a temperature no higher than 75 degrees. After the water evaporates, Cha Gao - a resinous substance - remains on the bottom and walls of the cauldron and is rolled into balls or formed into plates. Subject to all the cooking requirements, all the useful Pu-erh substances are preserved in Cha Gao.
Now Cha Gao is made by cryoextraction - the leaf is gradually dried at low temperatures. This method makes the tea paste a more affordable product.
To make the drink, one plate of tea resin is brewed with 500 ml of boiling water. By playing with the amount of tea and water, you can make a mild, refreshing, tonic drink with a pleasant nutty flavor or a real natural energy drink for a sleepless night.
In addition, Cha Gao is also good as an antioxidant, immune stimulant, effective for hangovers.