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A bibliometric approach to assess trends in global tea research using literature in the Science Citation Index Expanded database from 1991 to 2014 has been conducted. Articles were analysed by scientific output and research performances of countries and institutions. The distribution of keywords in the articles' titles, author-supplied keywords and KeyWords Plus as well as citation and publication trends of tea-related articles was used to evaluate the research trends. The research output devoted to tea science increased greatly after the year 2002 indicating a paradigm shift that demonstrated that researchers became increasingly keen on biochemical relevance of active compounds in tea in mitigating emergent health challenges over classical tea research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article repots on the research collaboration that existed between individuals and institutions in the north and south. The research collaboration was described by many as scientific colonialism. It was the northern collaborator who dictated the scientific agenda and its execution, as funding came mainly from northern institutions. Developing country researchers were left at the mercy of their northern partners. The types of collaborations that evolved over time may vary, but the lack of control exerted by southern collaborators has remained remarkably consistent. There was the colonial era collaboration during which collection of data was an integral part of the health service.