The Formula Behind Cha Panda: A Chinese Chic Tea Brand's Ascent.

Cha Panda: Redefining Tea for a New Generation

Tea started in China many centuries ago and is a major part of our culture. In the past, young people often didn’t drink much traditional tea. But the rise of "new-style tea" has completely changed this. Today, new-style tea brands, like Cha Panda, are trendy, refreshing, and often inspire national pride. They have become popular “happy drinks" for young people. What's the secret to this success?

From a Small Shop to Over 5,500 Stores

In 2008, Cha Panda began in a small 30-square-meter shop next to a middle school in Chengdu. Even with a small space, it quickly became popular.

At that time, the tea industry was challenging, often relying on artificial milk and tea powder. Unlike trendy coffee, milk tea was seen as a cheap street drink. However, the founders of Cha Panda believed that China, with its rich natural resources, could make truly authentic and delicious tea drinks.

Cha Panda's mission was clear: "Use good Chinese ingredients to make great Chinese tea drinks." They insisted on using real tea leaves and high-quality fresh fruits. For some products, they even chose premium animal cream and cheese, which were usually found only in high-end dessert shops. This changed how people viewed milk tea and helped Cha Panda earn consumer trust.

Over more than ten years, Cha Panda has focused on quality and innovation, growing its brand and expanding rapidly. Today, Cha Panda proudly operates over 5,500 stores nationwide.

Commitment to Quality: Our Core Strength

Quality is the foundation of every drink. Cha Panda strengthens its brand by carefully sourcing excellent ingredients, innovating production processes, and maintaining strict supply chain control.

• Premium Ingredients: For example, jasmine tea, which forms the base of many of our drinks, comes from the renowned "Zhang Yiyuan" brand. We specially customize it for Cha Panda.
• Fine Fruits: We are very selective about our fruits. Our white peach drinks use famous, juicy peaches from Wuxi and Sichuan. Cherries from Wenchuan and unique ginger from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan are also part of our high-quality raw material list.
• Innovative Recipes: Cha Panda invests heavily in new product development to cater to unique tastes. Our latest "Strawberry Season" series uses a traditional Chinese steaming method. This quickly removes bitterness from strawberries, speeds up in-store preparation, and avoids lengthy cooking.
• Freshness with a Strong Supply Chain: Freshly brewed tea and freshly cut fruits are key to "new-style tea." So, Cha Panda continuously improves its supply chain. Last year, our delivery network could reach stores within 600 km. This year, we've reduced it to 100-300 km, aiming for same-day delivery of raw materials to stores.
• Strict Quality Control: Cha Panda has strict "optimal taste period" ingredient standards. This ensures every product is served when its flavor and quality are at their best.

Innovative Branding: A Trendsetting Image

To connect with our young target audience, Cha Panda uses creative branding:

• Panda Mascot - "Dingdingmao": We created "Dingdingmao," an adorable and curious panda, as our brand mascot. Dingdingmao loves tea and dreams of becoming a “universe-class tea master," making the world fall in love with Chinese tea. We’ve developed stickers, gift boxes, and dolls, building an emotional connection with consumers.
• Exciting Collaborations: Cha Panda collaborates with other brands to create unique experiences. We partnered with "Luzhou Laojiao” (a famous alcohol brand) to launch "Tipsy Journey," a new tea+alcohol drink that quickly became a bestseller. Last year, our partnership with the “Dunhuang Museum" resulted in our popular "Flying Apsaras Discovery Tea" series.

Thanks to the efforts of new-style tea brands like Cha Panda, new-style tea has become a popular national beverage. According to a 2021 report, China's new-style tea market reached an estimated 98.9 billion RMB, with stores expected to hit 500,000 by 2023.

This booming market reflects growing consumer sophistication and a strong cultural confidence in China. As "Gen Z" becomes the major consumer group, they actively seek quality Chinese brands that blend tradition with modern style. New-style tea brands have perfectly found this sweet spot. They use tea to reignite a love for local drinks and let people rediscover the timeless charm of tea culture. This is an exciting era where we innovate our traditions and help the aroma of tea reach even wider audiences.