2024 HAPI Japan Best Practice Winner
THE PROBLEM
In Japan, drinking fresh, delicious green tea is part of the national culture. But as people age, many develop dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and so caregivers in rehabilitation or nursing facilities often add thickeners to liquids to help patients avoid choking or coughing. It usually takes about 10 minutes to prepare thickened tea, and the thickening agent often does not melt well and can alter the taste of the tea. This poses a double issue as it places a time burden on caregivers and lessens the care recipients’ enjoyment of the tea.
THE INNOVATION
Recognizing that Japan is entering the era of 100-year lifespans, one of Japan’s leading tea producers, ITO EN, carried out joint research with the Department of Medicine at the Graduate School of Medicine of University of Tokyo to achieve the optimal viscosity to make it easy to drink while retaining the delicious flavor of the green tea. The result was the ready-to-serve Torori Ryokucha (thick green tea). It requires no added work to thicken and will not clump, and so it is expected to save time and labor in nursing care settings or for home caregivers and make it possible for anyone to easily drink evenly thickened tea.
The company spent more than two years creating a unique thickening agent from scratch. They also independently developed raw tea materials that would stand up to the taste of the thickener, and tested more than 200 prototypes to achieve a delicious thickened green tea that would live up to the ITO EN reputation. And they ensured that it is a low-caffeine drink.
The tea, which is categorized as “mildly thick” according to the Japanese Society for Dysphagia Rehabilitation Classification 2021, can be enjoyed warm or cold without affecting the thickness, and prior to opening, can be stored at room temperature. In addition, the company gave careful consideration to universal design, ensuring that the cap is easy to open, and the container is easy to pour, even for those with decreased grip strength.
An added benefit is that the product was found to be useful in the aftermath of disasters. After the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in 2024, a temporary health facility for older people was facing water shortages and concerns about securing a sanitary environment. They reported that ITO EN Torori Green Tea, which comes in a resealable box and is ready to serve, proved to be very useful, allowing the displaced residents to at least be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of fresh-tasting, easy-to-drink green tea.