Charleston Tea Plantation

In an attempt to find out more about our favorite drink; tea, we came upon the Charleston Tea Plantation.  Located on James Island, just south of Charleston, it consists of about 145 acres of camellia sinensis, or tea plants.  As in an earlier blog, all tea comes from the same plant, however, there are approximately 350 varieties of the plant!  I was shocked to learn this.  Some interesting tid-bits regarding the tea farm, they have the 1902 World's Fair tea plant that introduced iced-tea to America, they also have a plant that has been left unattended to, which has grown to about 16 feet tall.  The plants will naturally grow to tree height if left alone.  The processing plant, which is also on the property, is a quiet, very simple process that was surprisingly unobtrusive.  They only produce black tea, with plans to begin the green tea process later on this year.  The Bigelow family owns the plantation, and it would seem that the "Charleston Tea Plantation," brand of tea is only sold locally.  Which is a shame, the tea is fantastic!  The guide was telling us, that in the fall, all of the tea plants bloom, and that a particular butterfly, which is quite rare to the area, swarms the fields to pollinate.  That would be quite a spectacle.  We're going back for that at some point.