7th December, 2007: What’s happening at the Charleston Tea Plantation?
Aaron Lawrence knows…
After winning the R.C. Bigelow Incentive Program, territory rep., Aaron Lawrence was treated to a weekend at the Charleston Tea Plantation, which is the largest tea garden in the country. As you can tell from the photos, Aaron really enjoyed learning all there is to know about making tea. Aaron even made some new friends. According to Aaron, “The Charleston Tea Plantation is a great way to learn about tea and tea history. The staff is incredibly friendly and the site is magnificent. I would highly recommend making a visit whether you are a tea enthusiast or not!” There is more information on the Charleston Tea Plantation at www.bigelowtea.com.
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comments (2)
6th August, 2007: Bigelow Tea Plantation Featured on TODAY Show’s Website
Bigelow Tea’s Charleston Tea Plantation was featured by Peter Greenberg, TODAY Travel Detective. The Plantation was noted among other important landmarks in Charleston. In his piece of July 25, 2007, Touring the history, old charm of Charleston, Greenberg remarks that the 127-acre plantation, containing hundreds of thousands of tea bushes, is the only if its kind operational in the country. Tours are available Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday noon-4 p.m. For more information go to the Charleston Tea Plantation category here or on our website, www.bigelowtea.com.
Make Charleston a destination this summer and learn more about tea and its history.
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
25th July, 2007: Upcoming Tour to the Charleston Tea Plantation
The Tea House Times will be hosting a four-day tea tour, July 29 - August 3, featuring stops at the only black tea plantation in the U.S., The Charleston Tea Plantation, and other points of historic interest in Charleston and Summerville, South Carolina.
On day one, tea enthusiasts will gain a better understanding of the beginnings of the tea industry in America with a full morning’s visit to the Charleston Tea Plantation.
At the plantation which is owned by Bigelow Tea, visitors will explore the grounds, tour the factory and browse the gift shop. Rounding out the day, guests will enjoy southern cooking at its best during a formal dinner at the Woodlands Inn.
Tour highlights also include stops at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, explorations of historic Charleston and Summerville, free time in Old City Market and an afternoon tea at the Wickliffe House.
For more tour information or to sign-up, visit the Tea House Times Web site.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
1st June, 2007: A visitor arrives at the Charleston Tea Plantation
Today Bigelow Tea has invited Gail Gastelu, aka Lady Gayle, www.theteahousetimes.com, to be our guest blogger and tell us about her experience visiting the Charleston Tea Plantation. Take a look and let us know when you can visit!
Having visited Charleston Tea Plantation, I wanted to share my story so others will know how beautiful and how worth the trip it really is. In May, 2006, I was invited with other members of the press to attend Grand Opening festivities at the Charleston Tea Plantation. The experience was truly magical. Under a beautiful white tented area we were treated to refreshments and presentations by the Bigelow family and co-owner, Bill Hall. The passion and hard work they have put into the operations of this plantation were really felt that day as they shared with us all the details of tea growth and operation of the facility and machinery.
Driving from the Charleston area to Wadmalaw Island, where the Plantation is located, was beautiful in itself. Winding roads lined with huge trees dripping with Spanish moss created a pathway and pleasant drive. Upon entering the drive to the Plantation, the excitement began to build immediately. As soon as you enter, you are surrounded by tea shrubs. As you drive further up the road you encounter more trees with Spanish moss and more tea – as far as the eye can see.
Once the car is parked you can enter the gift shop which leads to the factory where you may observe the tea processing machinery at work. Along the tour are video presentations of tea processing and explanations of the equipment being used. It is very interesting and fun. At the end of the tour you may sample some iced tea and enjoy the vast selection of Charleston Tea Plantation souvenirs as well as some special South Carolina, low-country specialties.
American Classic Tea, produced at the Plantation, is available all throughout the South at almost every shop, grocery store, and even in the airport gift shops. It is very good for making iced tea. In fact, my sister-in-law and her family have been drinking it iced for years and love it so much they can’t get enough of it. So, when I brought them some boxes of tea back from my trip, they were thrilled, but since they make iced tea every day – quickly ran out. So, my niece says “I’m sure Auntie Gail can help us get more!” Well, I told them they can order the tea directly from the Bigelow website or the Plantation online and that was great news to them.
For anyone who enjoys drinking tea, attending afternoon tea, or simply loves to travel, this is a unique, very special experience not to be missed. Go to the Bigelow website www.bigelowtea.com for more information, hours, and directions. I, myself, enjoyed it so much that I am leading a Tea Tour, Summer 2007 to include a special time at the Plantation and surrounding Charleston area.
By Gail Gastelu, aka Lady Gayle, www.theteahousetimes.com
Posted by Valorie at 6:00 am | Comments (3)
9th May, 2007: 2007 Charleston Tea Plantation First Flush Celebration!
May 12, 2007 10am - 5pm
Each Spring Mother Nature awakens the Tea Plants and another growing season begins. The Lowcountry provides just the right mix of heat, rain and sun for tiny, tender tea leaves to push up above last year’s growth. This “First Flush”” is Nature’s very special gift to Charleston Tea Plantation - America’s Only Tea Garden.
With a taste all its own, American Classic Tea’s First Flush is a once-a-year Special Edition Tea available in very limited quantities. This year we are going to celebrate our First Flush with a Festival at the Plantation on May 12, 2007. Bring a blanket or chair and come celebrate with us for a full day of fun, food, live music, games, relaxation and friendship.
Observe the process of making tea in our factory from the “Tourway” where you’ll hear and see all about the world of tea. Visit the Gift Shoppe for unique merchandise and take home a supply of American Classic Tea. Take the narrated bus tour through the farm for unforgettable views. Purchase your own supply of the 2007 American Classic First Flush Tea for those special moments when only the best will do. It’s all part of the First Flush Festival at Charleston Tea Plantation.
Call 1-843-559-0383 or click here for more details.
Posted by Liesl at 3:44 pm | Comment (0)
1st March, 2007: Nampa (Idaho) Red Hat Society
Recently the Boise facility was visited by a group of ladies from the Nampa Red Hat Society. As avid tea drinkers they wanted to see how Bigelow made Constant Comment and other teas. The groups watched a DVD showcasing the Charleston Tea Plantation growing and harvesting tea and then were able to follow tea through the production process.
The Red Hat Society philosophy is to have fun and this group sure promoted that idea to all those around them. It is refreshing to see people who enjoy life and take the extra time to find out about products they care about.
Posted by Dean at 6:25 pm | Comment (0)
24th November, 2006: The Only Tea Plantation in North America
Charleston Tea Plantation
Almost 200 years ago, tea planters brought their finest ancestral tea bushes from China and India to Wadmalaw Island near the historic old city of Charleston, South Carolina. On May 11, 2006, R.C. Bigelow was able to celebrate the historic occasion of re-opening the fully-restored Charleston Tea Plantation.
Established in 1888 in Summerville, South Carolina, the Plantation was a national producer of black tea until 1915. It was then derelict for 45 years. In 1960 the Lipton Tea Company purchased the Plantation and moved it to the present, more suitable location on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina. By this time the plantation was the only functional, commercial tea plantation in North America.
In 1987, Lipton sold the Plantation to tea expert Bill Hall and his partner. The next year they created the American Classic tea brand from the tea leaves grown there.
R.C. Bigelow purchased the Plantation in 2003. Since then Bigelow Tea has made significant investments working closely with Bill Hall to modernize the Plantation, make it capable of processing high-quality black tea, and fine tune it to make it visitor friendly.
Today the 127 acre Charleston Tea Plantation is open to visitors. Direct descendants of the original plants brought from China and India almost 200 years ago have been lovingly restored to their former grandeur in the Charleston Tea Plantation, a lush subtropical tea farm.
Posted by Elizabeth at 11:26 am | Comments (7)
