Lolo apricot kernel beverage, originating from 1975, was one of China's first plant protein beverages, with 50 years of excellent quality heritage.
Qin Zhang has been working at Chengde Lolo since 2009, specializing in the beverage industry for 16 years. As a senior expert in plant protein beverages and the third-generation inheritor of apricot kernel beverage technology, he serves as a committee member of the Technical Work Committee of China Beverage Industry Association and the Metal Products Subcommittee of the National Food Direct Contact Materials and Products Standardization Technical Committee. In recent years, he has been dedicated to the development and application of healthy drinks and food-medicine homology products.
From an R&D perspective, for the herbal plant-based beverage category to break through formula homogenization and weakly perceived functionality, innovation must go beyond ingredient combinations. It requires not only the use of authentic ingredients and differentiated, often rarer herbal sources at the raw-material level, but also the reinforcement of functional efficacy through the integration of process design and formulation science.
LOLO Herbal range follows this pathway. Guided by the principle of medicinal–food homology, the brand combines traditional slow-simmering techniques with a clean-label formulation strategy—low sugar, zero artificial flavorings, and no added additives. By emphasizing real ingredients and clean formulations, LOLO Herbal establishes differentiation while aligning with the low-sugar trend. Leveraging its existing channels and organizational capabilities, the brand continues to expand distribution, while strengthening its online presence through packaging and format innovation.
Looking ahead, growth in the herbal plant-based beverage category may shift from a competition over “who is healthier” to one centered on precision, verifiable efficacy, and drinkability.