Feature: China's Yili wins global drink water award with innovation practices

FRANKFURT, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- How quickly can one make a fresh, delicious cup of tea? For Chinese dairy giant Yili, the answer is just three seconds.

With its innovative product, INIKIN Brewed Tea, Yili has made this rapid experience possible and received global recognition, winning a prestigious water drink award on Tuesday night. The achievement, announced at the 21st Global Water Drinks Congress, a three-day event that concluded here on Wednesday, has garnered praise from industry experts and tea enthusiasts worldwide.

Gerrit Smit, an expert at Yili Innovation Center Europe, explained to Xinhua the technology behind the product: "Using optimal freshness technology, INIKIN employs a unique bottle cap that keeps freeze-dried tea powder separate from water, with no additives. This preserves the authentic flavor of high-quality tea. With just a twist and shake, a fresh bottle of tea is ready in three seconds," he said.

Richard Hall, chairman of Zenith Global, the event's organizer, commended Yili's product as a shining example of Chinese innovation in the beverage industry.

As the representative of the only invited Chinese company, Smit introduced a concept of harmonious coexistence between humanity, nature, and society, underscoring Chinese companies' commitment to green development in the global drinking water sector.

"At Yili, we take sustainability very seriously." He noted that Yili aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire supply chain by 2050.

The 21st Global Water Drinks Congress provided industry leaders, suppliers, customers and advisers with insights into the latest market trends, innovations, and challenges, while facilitating networking with key figures in the sector. ■