As a Brit, I’m a firm believer that there are few problems a good cup of tea can’t solve. While, admittedly I’m currently living in sunny Charleston, S.C. and I can’t exactly profess any major problems of my own, I decided to venture to America’s only tea plantation with my fellow international students to see what America has to offer on the tea front.
Whether like me, you can barely get through the day without enjoying a nice “brew”, or simply want to explore the beauty of Charleston, America’s only tea garden is definitely worth a visit.
We began our afternoon with a visit to the factory where the tea is made, learning about the processes that go into making different kinds of tea, whether it be black, green or Oolong. Then we enjoyed a scenic ride on a trolley that took us around the historic grounds of the tea plantation. During the ride, our tour guide John supplied us with facts and questions (because who doesn’t love tea trivia) and to our surprise we learned that the Irish consume more tea than anyone else in the world. We also discovered there is no need for the Charleston tea plantation to use any pesticides as the tea plant is naturally resistant to pests. Unfortunately for us however, when it comes to venturing out in Charleston bug spray is your best friend.
We then got to see the result of taking tea from the field to the cup. Available to try were all the different variations of tea made at the Charleston tea plantation. Some might say I was wary, skeptical, or even downright resistant to the cold tea phenomenon, that according to John has captured the hearts, and taste buds, of the majority of Americans who prefer to add ice and lemon, over the milk and sugar popular across the pond. However, after our tasting session of both hot and cold tea, I’ll begrudgingly admit I’d take a nice cold cup of American peach tea most days of the week. Will it replace my love for black tea, a dash of milk and two sugars? Probably not. But seeing where American tea is made and trying it is just one more experience to add to a great year with the College of Charleston.
– Jessica Shelton, American Studies exchange student from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
