Global Trends in Herbal Tea Research Highlight Antioxidant Focus and Collaboration Gaps

Recent comprehensive analysis of global herbal tea research from 2000 to 2023 reveals a growing scientific interest centered on antioxidant properties, phenolic compounds, and fruit tea varieties. While China and the United States lead in research output, international collaboration remains limited. Herbal teas, traditionally consumed for their health-promoting effects—including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities—are gaining recognition worldwide as functional foods. A study published in Beverage Plant Research underscores this trend, highlighting the need for coordinated research efforts to better understand their safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action. The research, utilizing CiteSpace to analyze 588 publications, identified three key phases of growth: initial steady development, a period of fluctuating progress, and a recent rapid expansion from 2018 onward. China emerged as the primary contributor, followed by the USA, Italy, Poland, and Malaysia, though cross-national collaboration remains underdeveloped. Keyword analysis emphasizes hotspots such as antioxidant activity, flavonoids, fruit teas, and Cyclopia species, with recent focus on chemical ...