Southeast of Charleston on Wadmalaw Island
in Lowcountry is Charleston Tea Plantation.
The hot and humid climate here is the only place in the United States
where tea plants are grown and processed into tea products.
Visitors enjoy relaxing on the porch rockers
enjoying the view of old oak trees and tea plant fields.
Bigelow Tea Co. owns 127 acres on the Island.
The plants require at least 75 days of 100 degree temperatures
to produce a new crop. The lighter green
new growth is ready for cutting.
This one of a kind tea harvester cuts the tea bushes
7-10 times during harvest season.
Inside the plant, the tea branches with leaves
are cut and sorted.
Cut tea leaves are sent to a dryer.
Three types of tea are made in this plant.
Green tea - no drying time
Oolong tea - 15 minutes
Black tea - 50 minutes
Tea going to the oxidation dryer.
Each batch weighing 5,000 lbs., rests for 18 hours
before packaging.
Tea is sold under Bigelow and Charleston Tea Plantation brands.
Nearby,The Angel Oak Tree is estimated to be 300-400 years old and is
claimed to be the oldest oak tree east of the Mississippi River.
The tree is 65 ft. high and towers over Karen.
I just love these posts! We just had some Bigelow tea yesterday as we are big tea drinkers. Now I have pictures in my head when I drink their tea. How fun to have been able to tour the factory! Beautiful pictures.
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