Guangzhou Pharmaceutical worked with Nobel physiology laureate Ferid Murad and Swiss company SGS to formulate an international standard for Chinese herbal tea in 2013, according to Li.

The standard was formulated with safety requirements and the quality control standards of medical plants in the European Union and North America as a framework of reference. This created a solid foundation for the internationalization of this Chinese herbal tea, Li said.

To test the beverage's raw materials and identify its genetic ingredients, the company developed a DNA barcode identification system in 2014.

It won second prize for scientific and technological progress during the National Science and Technology Award Conference on Jan 9. This is the first national science award ever given to the Chinese herbal tea industry.

Applied to the production line, the DNA barcode identification system aims to guarantee the quality of the beverage and increase consumers' satisfaction.

Guangzhou Pharmaceutical has teamed up with local high-tech companies such as Midea and iFlytek, adopting artificial intelligence in healthcare services.

The group signed an agreement with Midea in September to develop industrial robots, smart chemical warehouses and a big data system.