Analyzing 588 publications from 2000 to 2023 using CiteSpace, researchers uncovered a steady rise in global interest, with antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, and fruit tea identified as key areas of focus. While China and the USA led in research output, collaboration across countries and institutions remains underdeveloped.
Herbal tea, a traditional beverage brewed from plant parts such as leaves, roots, and flowers, has long been valued for its dual medicinal and dietary functions. Used across cultures to relieve ailments, boost immunity, and promote general well-being, herbal tea exhibits a wide range of bioactive properties—including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. In China alone, it is associated with 30 distinct health benefits. With increased global interest in plant-based and functional foods, herbal tea has emerged as a promising area of study. However, the vast diversity of herbal teas and their complex phytochemical compositions necessitate coordinated research efforts to clarify their safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action.
A study (DOI: 10.48130/bpr-0023-0040) published in Beverage Plant Research on 20 February 2024 by Qiang Yuan & Juzhao Liu’s team, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, highlights the growing scientific attention toward herbal tea’s health benefits and pharmacological properties.
To explore the evolution and landscape of global herbal tea research, an analysis was conducted using CiteSpace on 588 publications from 2000 to 2023. The study examined trends in publication volume, co-authorship patterns, national and institutional collaboration, keyword clustering, and co-citation networks. The analysis revealed a clear upward trajectory in herbal tea research output, with three developmental phases: a modest initial stage (2003–2007), a period of unstable growth (2008–2017), and a phase of rapid expansion (2018–2022). China emerged as the dominant contributor, both in volume and centrality, followed by the USA, Italy, Poland, and Malaysia. However, cross-national and institutional collaboration remains limited, with notable exceptions like the robust team led by South African researcher Joubert E. A co-authorship network comprising 240 authors showed that sustained collaboration was rare, although emerging teams are beginning to form. The institutional analysis revealed that while Chinese institutions are well-connected domestically, international collaboration is relatively weak. Keyword analysis showed that antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds (especially flavonoids), and emerging areas like fruit tea and Cyclopia spp. are research hotspots. Burst keyword and timeline mapping further confirmed “chemical composition” as a recent focal point. Highly cited works focus on pharmacological effects and safety, reflecting growing concern for regulatory standards. The study also cataloged 107 Chinese medicinal herbs used in herbal teas, identifying roots, seeds, and flowers as the most commonly used plant parts. Additionally, safety concerns—such as liver and kidney toxicity, contamination, and dosage—highlight the need for stricter regulation. Regulatory frameworks differ widely across countries, with the EU, US, China, and Japan each employing distinct strategies. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of deepening international collaboration, enhancing regulatory oversight, and expanding research into both health benefits and safety of herbal teas to support their safe and effective global use.
Herbal tea’s therapeutic potential—particularly its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic benefits—positions it as a valuable tool in managing chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. This study offers researchers a roadmap to understand where the field is heading and what gaps remain. By pinpointing high-impact authors, themes, and compounds, it provides a springboard for deeper mechanistic studies, product development, and clinical trials. At the same time, safety concerns—ranging from excessive intake to trace element contamination—highlight the urgent need for regulatory oversight.
###
References
DOI
10.48130/bpr-0023-0040
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.48130/bpr-0023-0040
Funding information
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2021M692893, 2021M702927), National Natural Science Fund of China (82204552), Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (LQ22H280007), Research Project of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (2022JKZKTS10), Zhejiang Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology (2023ZR079, 2023ZR087).
About Beverage Plant Research
Beverage Plant Research (e-ISSN 2769-2108) is the official journal of Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and China Tea Science Society. Beverage Plant Research is an open access, online-only journal published by Maximum Academic Press which publishing original research, methods, reviews, editorials, and perspectives, which advance the biology, chemistry, processing, and health functions of tea and other important beverage plants.