Recipient of the Magnolia Silver Award, the highest honor awarded by the Shanghai Municipal Government (2007)
Earned a Ph.D. in Phytochemistry from the University of Sheffield, UK in the 1980s
A seasoned scholar with a long-standing focus on tea, coffee, and herbal medicine research; published extensively in the field of tea and botanicals, including research papers, monographs, and patents
Formerly led Lipton’s tea R&D and innovation at Unilever’s global R&D headquarters; founded and headed the Unilever China Research Center; served as Unilever’s Technology Director for Greater China
Since 2008, has co-founded four companies in partnership with international venture capital firms: GeneStar Biosciences, Huangshan Hualvyuan Biotechnology, Huangshan Maofeng Tea Group, and Shanghai Vantest Quality Inspection
Specializes in providing one-stop solutions covering the entire value chain — from basic research, technology and product development, cultivation management, primary and refined processing, extraction, contract manufacturing, to quality inspection — for tea, coffee, and herbal ingredients
Has led the development of hundreds of health supplements, functional foods & beverages, and cosmetic products based on tea, coffee, herbal plants, and marine organisms for leading domestic and international brands, generating billions of RMB in annual sales for clients
Has served as a distinguished or visiting professor at the Tea Research Institute of China, Hunan Agricultural University, Anhui Agricultural University, and the China Tea Business School
Kaijing Yan, Chairman of Tasly Holding Group, and Wei Wang, Founder of XINGYUN Group, joined forces with Professor Wei Jia and Dr. Ya Cai to explore the future of the ready-to-drink (RTD) tea industry.
Against the broader policy backdrop of the National Health Commission’s launch of the “Year of Weight Management” and the “Three Reductions, Three Health Improvements” initiative, a surge in health-conscious consumer demand is converging with the global rise of tea culture. In this context, two industry titans have integrated their strengths—bridging pharmaceutical innovation with a globalized supply chain—to introduce a pioneering product that marks a new chapter in RTD tea.
Does this collaboration signal China’s entry into the RTD Tea 3.0 era? Is the industry on the cusp of a transformation, with functional tea evolving from category innovation to a model of precise health management?
China's RTD tea market is poised to embark on a new chapter of health-driven evolution and multidimensional value enhancement.