Charleston Tea Plantation

Is this pretty lame or worth checking out?

Charleston Tea Plantation

I personally have never been to the Tea Plantation. It has been closed for some time and opened just recently. People ask about it all the time, but no one has ever come back and given feedback.

Maybe someone else can give some more information?

Charleston Tea Plantation

It is interesting and fun but it is pretty far out Maybank Hwy. Unless you are going to be here for an extended period of time, you would be better served to stay downtown or see some of the other local sites.

It is rows of tea plants which are in the camilla family.

You can buy the Classic American Tea (which is very good!) in many of the local grocery stores and some of the booths in the market. Some of the downtown shops carry it, too. It makes a nice gift to take home because it is not heavy or breakable.

I have only been by the place never stopped for a visit. This is a blurb advertising the place:

';Attention tea connoisseurs! This is the only working tea plantation in the United States; you can learn about tea harvesting, processing and packaging. The plantation supplies the official tea of the White House. If you are visiting during the summer, wear a hat or take an umbrella as the sun will be intense and there is little shade available outside. See their website for further information.';

From what I understand this is the only place in the USA that is suitable for a tea farm.

If you really really like tea it might be neat to learn about the process.

My DH and I just visited the tea plantation. We have a home on Seabrook Island and we rarely leave to see the ';sights';. We decided this trip we would see some of the things that have been on our to-do list. We%26#39;re glad we did.

Here%26#39;s what we did: On Saturday we drove to the tea plantation. They have a film tour every 15 minutes. There%26#39;s a gift shop to visit while you%26#39;re waiting for the next film. You%26#39;ll learn more about tea in 15 minutes than you%26#39;d think possible. After the film, we walked around the grounds. I did notice picnic tables if you need to stop for snack.

After the plantation, we traveled to Irvin-House Vineyards and Winery. **TIP: there is a shortcut; when you exit the tea plantation continue on Maybank Hwy (SC700) for about 3.5 miles; you%26#39;ll turn left onto Liberia Road; another two miles or so and you%26#39;ll turn left onto Bear%26#39;s Bluff Rd. Travel on Bear%26#39;s Bluff for 3 miles and you%26#39;ll see the sign on the left.

The Irvins are very knowledgable about muscadine wines. You can do a tasting of five wines for $2.50 and get a souvenir glass. I believe on Saturdays at 2 PM they do tours of the winery.

We be returning to SC in July with friends. We will be taking them to both the tea plantation and the winery.

Have fun.

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