America's Only Working Tea Farm is in Charleston, South Carolina

Last weekend our plans were thwarted by unforeseen events so my husband and I decided to make the best of our newly-found free time. Because we live in a destination location, there are always interesting things to see and do in Charleston, S.C.

We jumped in the car and set off for unknown adventures. A rambling drive down oak tree-lined Maybank Highway brought us to one of Charleston, South Carolina's best kept secrets, the Charleston Tea Plantation. Happily, the gates were open to guests so we pulled in and parked. As we walked to the factory and gift shop, we paused to drink in all the beauty the Charleston Tea Plantation has to offer. This place is terrific. The nation's only working tea farm is tucked into an idyllically beautiful setting with richly landscaped gardens. As an avid tea lover, it looked like paradise to me. My eyes couldn't take it in fast enough.

The Charleston Tea Plantation is the ONLY working tea farm in America. With hot temperatures, high humidity and frequent rainfalls, South Carolina's Lowcountry offers ideal growing conditions for the Camellia sinensis plant. And apparently these tea bushes love our climate; several hundred thousand tea bushes are thriving on roughly 127 acres just 25 minutes outside of Charleston, South Carolina.

Charleston Tea Plantation's history

Founded in 1960, the Charleston Tea Plantation produced and supplied grocery stores with American Classic Tea until the factory doors closed in 2002. The tea farm's future was uncertain while legal kinks were being worked out. For four year this beautiful tract of land with its ages-old tea bushes sat stagnant.

Through an industry relationship a local partner of the Charleston Tea Plantation, Bill Hall, had become friendly with David and Eunice Bigelow. The Bigelows are well known heavyweights in the tea producing industry. (Yes, those Bigelows). In April of 2003 the Bigelows purchased the Charleston Tea Plantation for $1.28 million dollars.

After some 'behind the scenes' work, in 2006, America's only tea garden once again opened its doors for tea production and for visitors. Since that time, tea production is going strong and the number of tourists visiting the Charleston Tea Plantation is on the rise.

David Bigelow admits he didn't purchase the Charleston Tea Plantation simply for profits. The experience of seeing the fresh tea leaves collected from the field and of following each step in the production process is quite stirring. Bigelow considers the Charleston Tea Plantation a 'show-and-tell'. And, as a true tea lover, he believes the Charleston Tea Plantation's tea bushes are precious and irreplaceable. He felt he had to save this hidden gem.

Apparently Charleston Tea Plantation's tea bushes were brought to South Carolina from China in the mid-1800s. During our visit, we learned that tea bushes don't die, they just keep growing. And they are fairly easy to grow. Once tea plants have firmly rooted they require no tilling. Regular trimming is all this variety of the camellia plant requires. Pests are not attracted to tea bushes. And from these easy to grow and maintain tea plants comes the most delicious drink. Tea bushes are certainly miracles of nature.

Charleston Tea Plantation today

While visiting the Charleston Tea Plantation, we rode the trolley through the 127 acre tea fields. The plantation's harvest season is from May until October. Viewing hundreds of thousands of well manicured tea plants growing under a lush canopy of grand oak trees adorned with Spanish moss is awesome. This gorgeous setting is sure to turn anyone into a tea lover - which is probably what David Bigelow considered too.

After a tour of the tea fields, we were ushered into the new factory to watch the entire tea-making process. A 125 foot long gallery of windows overlooks the tea-making equipment. Three large-screen televisions hang over various pieces of equipment and a combination of narration, television images and actual working machinery weave together to tell the story of how a newly-picked raw tea leaf turns into a deliciously smooth and refreshing liquid. This is a multi-media showcase of how American Classic Tea is made.

As part of the Charleston Tea Plantation's business model, tourists can stroll along the grounds and view the factory for free. Samples of the delicious local brew are readily available. They know every guest will feel compelled to buy tea. We sure did.

So the next time you are near South Carolina, consider a visit to the nation's only working tea farm and experience this miracle of nature. And while you're here, buy some local American Classic Tea. Delicious.

Charleston Tea Gardens, LLC
6617 Maybank Highway
Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina 29487
843.559.0383

Charleston Tea Plantation and Gift Shop is open
Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sundays from noon - 4:00pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Handicap Accessible

Driving Directions to Charleston Tea Plantation:

From Charleston Airport and I-26:
Take I-526 West, then take a right onto Savannah Hwy. (US17) and travel for 4.8 miles. Turn left onto Main Rd. and follow Main Rd. to Maybank Hwy. (SC700). Turn right onto Maybank Hwy. and travel for 10 miles. The Charleston Tea Plantation entrance is marked with a sign on the left.

From Charleston:
Take the Ashley River Bridge (US17), stay left to merge onto Folly Rd. (SC171). Turn right onto Maybank Hwy. (SC700) and travel for 18 miles. The Charleston Tea Plantation entrance is marked with a sign on the left.

Sources:

Personal experience

Bigelow Tea - Charleston
http://www.bigelowtea.com/act/

Charleston Post and Courier
http://www.postandcourier.com/