Frequently asked questions

About tea resin

What is tea resin?

Cha gao (茶膏), translated literally as "tea paste", was first crafted during the Tang Dynasty in Ancient China. By slowly simmering whole tea leaves, then filtering and drying the concentrated liquid, craftsmen could reduce 1,000 grams of tea leaves down to just 200 grams of dense, shelf-stable resin. Small enough to carry anywhere. Concentrated enough to brew several cups from a single gram.

It was a practical craft born of necessity, but an exacting one. The labour involved was immense, which is why cha gao eventually disappeared from common production.

Today, using cold brewing and freeze drying techniques, we can achieve a similar result - tea resin that dissolves easily in hot or cold water, and retains the flavour, aroma, and natural antioxidants of whole-leaf pu'er.
What are tea resins made of?

Our tea resins contain only pu'er tea — with herbs or flowers added depending on the blend. Nothing else. No preservatives, no additives, no fillers of any kind.

Because the resins are completely dry, they're shelf stable and keep well without refrigeration. All PANGU Tea products are packaged in Australia from imported ingredients.
Why choose tea resin over tea bags or loose-leaf tea?

Tea resin is whole-leaf tea in its most concentrated form. The same quality and depth you'd expect from a well-brewed loose-leaf cup, without the strainers, steeping bags or anything to clean up afterwards.

Our cold brewing and freeze drying process extracts flavour slowly and at low temperatures, which preserves more of what makes whole-leaf pu'er worth drinking, including its natural antioxidants and aroma compounds.

It also means no microplastics. No bags, no sachets, no synthetic materials of any kind. Just tea, dissolved cleanly into water.
Is there caffeine?

Yes. Tea resin is whole-leaf pu'er in concentrated form, so it carries a natural level of caffeine, broadly comparable to a brewed cup of tea rather than coffee.

If you're sensitive to caffeine, we'd suggest starting with the ripe pu'er varieties which has a lighter, gentler character than raw pu'er.

How to brew

How do I drink it?

Unwrap a resin drop and place it in your cup, mug, or teapot. Pour hot water (90–100°C) directly over it and allow it to dissolve, this takes about 30 seconds. Give it a gentle stir and it's ready.

The resin dissolves fully in hot water. In cold or room-temperature water, allow a little longer - it will still dissolve, just more gradually.

One drop makes two to three cups, depending on how strong you prefer your brew. For a lighter cup, use more water or remove tea resin before it fully dissolves.

Products & Orders

What products do you offer?

We currently offer four pu'er tea resins, each with a distinct character. All four are part of our SKY Series:

  • First Light — Raw Pu'er Bright, lightly grassy, and gently energising.
  • Aurora — Jasmine Pu'er Soft and floral, with jasmine layered through whole-leaf pu'er. Our most delicate blend.
  • Golden Hour — Ripe Pu'er Smooth, earthy, and deeply warming.
  • Nautical Twilight — Sticky Rice Pu'er Rich and slightly sweet, with a distinctive freshly cooked rice aroma that lingers.

Each is available as a sample pack (12 cubes), a tin (30 cubes), or a refill pouch (60 cubes). A bundle is also available if you'd like to explore the full range before settling on a favourite.

PANGU Tea is one of the few places in Australia where pu'er tea resin is available.
Where do you ship to?

We ship Australia-wide. Orders over $89 AUD include free standard shipping.

For delivery timeframes, carrier details and any other shipping information, see our Shipping Policy.
What is your returns policy?

Because our products are consumable, we're unable to accept returns or exchanges once an order has been placed. We try to describe each blend as accurately as possible so you can choose with confidence.

If something arrives damaged or if there's anything wrong with your order, please reach out to us at contact@pangutea.com.au, we'll do our best to make it right.

Our full Refund Policy is available here.

Still have a question?

Drop us a line at contact@pangutea.com.au
We're real humans and we reply quickly.

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