As For Me, Make Mine Tea

The American philosopher, Williams James once noted that "there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

Nowhere is this more evident than in Charleston, where, following its pre-Revolutionary English roots, afternoon tea is still considered a refined and dignified ceremony. The visitor who has the good fortune to experience a Charleston tea room will discover a tradition that has been tastefully maintained over the years.

Charleston has the distinction of being the first place tea was grown in the United States. In 1799, French botanist Francois Andre Micheaux brought the first tea plants and seeds to America, specifically to what is now Middleton Place, located near Charleston.

Early attempts to grow tea in the United States include a successful venture in 1888 when Dr. Charles Shepard established the Pinehurst Tea Plantation in Summerville. Pinehurst gained fame for its oolong tea, which claimed first prize at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. Shepard's plantation was an innovative experimental farm that flourished until his death in 1915.

In 1903, one of Shephard's students, Maj. Roswell Trimble, along with his partner, Augustus C. Tyler, started the American Tea Growing Company. They transplanted thousands of plants from Pinehurst to a farm near Rantowles, just outside Charleston. But by 1907, the two were feuding so much they decided to dissolve the company.

Pinehurst was overgrown when Thomas J. Lipton Inc. arrived in 1963. Lipton created a research station on Wadmalaw Island, where he experimented with Shepard's remaining plants, ultimately proving that a high quality tea could be grown successfully in the United States, particularly in the Southeast.

In 1987, Mack Fleming and William Barclay Hall started the Charleston Tea Plantation after purchasing 127 acres from Lipton, and turned the farm into the only place in America where tea is grown commercially. The plantation produces American Classic Tea, which was officially designated the Hospitality Beverage of South Carolina in recognition of the company's unique and historical endeavor. In 2003, R. C. Bigelow, Inc. purchased the plantation with the goal of continuing the area's tea-growing tradition.

Tea is part of almost every culture in the world, dating back to the ancient Chinese. It was originally used for medicinal purposes, as tea has the unusual ability to calm and stimulate at the same time. It later became popular for social purposes.

The tradition of afternoon tea, or "taking tea," as it is properly referred to, has been attributed more to the English and was discovered as a way to make it through the long period between their midday and evening meal.

Many of the churches in the historic district hold tea rooms during certain times of the year, such as during the Spoleto Festival or during the Christmas holidays. A few of the finer hotels and bed & breakfast establishments also feature tea rooms, which serve classic tea sandwiches, tarts, crumpets, scones and other culinary delights to their guests.

The Audubon Gallery Not just a gallery, but a Charleston destination since 1987. Located in the heart of the antique district The Audubon Gallery is the only local gallery to specialize in the finest Natural History and Sporting Art from the 17th - 20th centuries. A sportsmans paradise with a fantastic selection of paintings, etchings, limited edition fine art prints, antique wildfowl decoys and wood carvings by local artisans. Audubon's "Birds of America", Natural History Art by Besler, Redouté, Clark, Benson and many others. Contact Joel Oppenheimer Inc., The Natural History Art Gallery.

McCrady's Inventive cuisine. Fresh from the farm. Named one of the Top Ten Restaurants in North America by Opinionated About Dining. McCrady's Restaurant, located in an historic 1778 Georgian public house, offers an award-winning dining experience with the best of new Southern cuisine. Chef Sean Brock was awarded the 2010 James Beard Best Chef Southeast for his talented mix of modern skills and classic antebellum recipes. Sensationally presented dishes one of Charleston's most extensive wine lists. Private dining available in the spectacular Long Room, Gallery, Chef's Room or Cypress Room.

Bernie Horton Gallery A native of rural North Carolina now living at the edge of the marsh, Bernie Horton paints fine art originals reflecting the beauty of his surroundings --- most recognized for his light-filled lowcountry landscapes, marshes, beaches and people. Bernie captures the moods and emotions of all the different seasons and times of day. Each painting is approached from an impressionistic standpoint, yet to the eye, they have a realistic quality because of his concentration on perspective, proportion and attention to detail. Visit or find Bernie Horton Gallery on Facebook.