The Charleston Tea Garden is perfect for a day trip from Charleston, or the Sea Islands. Enjoy the beauty of the lush tea fields while learning about the garden's signature American Classic Tea. The tea farm is approximately 20 miles from the Freshfields Village roundabout. Visit the Charleston Tea Plantation on scenic Wadmalaw Island for a unique excursion.
The Charleston Tea Garden's goes back to 1960 when the Thomas J. Lipton Company purchased an abandoned tea plantation in Summerville, SC. The surviving tea plants found a new home on Wadmalaw Island. The cultivation of tea proved to be a difficult endeavor. However, after ownership changes, the operation continues today under R.C. Bigelow Company. The Wadmalaw tea plantation is now known as The Charleston Tea Garden.
There are plenty of other interesting Charleston day trip destinations in our area. To learn more, download our complimentary Sea Island Vacation Guide. The guide offers suggestions for many attractions in the Lowcountry.
Things to Do at the Charleston Tea Garden & Plantation
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Factory and Trolley Tours
The Factory Tour at the Charleston Tea Plantation is the preferred way to start your visit. Get a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art equipment used to produce American Classic Tea. You will also learn about the history of tea, the differences between types, and the harvesting and production process. Tours begin every 15 minutes.
To explore the vast grounds, take a Trolley Tour. These excursions are narrated by the founder of American Classic Tea, William Barclay Hall.
Tickets are available at the Charleston Tea Garden Gift Shoppe for $12 per person ($6 for children under 12). The tour is 35 - 40 minutes.
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Charleston Tea Garden Gift Shoppe
American Classic Tea is packaged on-site at the Charleston Tea Plantation. There are several varieties, and each is sold at the gift shop. (You may also purchase them on their website and at local retailers.) They also offer scented body products, apparel, teacups and kettles, and many other souvenirs.
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Special Events
The Charleston Tea Garden provides the perfect backdrop for almost any Lowcountry event. Whether you are hosting a family get-together, or a corporate gathering, or are planning your dream Charleston Tea Plantation wedding, the scenic grounds make for the perfect venue. The Pavilion can be configured to your unique needs. The front porch of the Charleston Tea Garden Gift Shoppe is also a great spot for a dinner or reception.
Charleston Tea Garden - Frequently Asked Questions
What type of tea is grown in Charleston?
Camellia Sinensis plants are grown in the fields of the Wadmalaw tea farm. These produce the Charleston Tea Garden Teas. These tea plants are direct descendants of the original tea plants cultivated at Pinehurst Tea Plantation in Summerville, SC. The plants date back to the late 1800s.
What does First Flush Tea Mean?
First Flush tea offers a special taste. Leaves from the first growth in Spring are harvested to produce this once-a-year brewed specialty. The first harvest of the season occurs in May.