History of Growing Tea in the U.S.

Steeping Around With Rekaya

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features Pineapple Mint by Shaka Tea. In tea talk, she shares the history of growing tea in the United States from 1799 to present day. In tea news, she announces the launch of Mavusana Premium Rooibos Tea in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Shaka Tea - www.shakatea.com

Mamaki, a native plant of Hawaii

André Michaux, French Botanist

Henry Middleton

Dr. Junius Smith

Dr. Alexis Forster

Dr. Charles Shepard, Pinehurst Tea Plantation, Summerville, South Carolina

Thomas J. Lipton Incorporated

Mark Fleming and William Barclay Hall

Charleston Tea Garden – www.charlestonteagarden.com

American Classic Tea, a 100% tea from America’s own tea garden

Bigelow Tea Company - www.bigelowtea.com

U.S. League of Tea Growers – www.usteagrowers.com

Mavusana Premium Rooibos Tea - www.mavusana.co.za

Stellenbosch, Western Cape in South Africa

Bibliography:

Charleston Tea Garden. (2021). Our History: The Charleston Tea Garden's History. Charleston TeaGarden.com. https://charlestonteagarden.com/history

Griesbach, R.J. (2013). 150 Years of Research at the United States Department of Agriculture: Plant Introduction and Breeding. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,

Washington, DC. https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/np/150yearsofresearchatusda/150yearsofresearchatusdaintro/

Helmer, J. (2017, March 28). Pinkies Up! A Local Tea Movement Is Brewing. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/28/521380607/pinkies-up-a-local-tea-movement-is-brewing

IOL Reporter. (2021, August 19). This Stellenbosch Entrepreneur Has Created His Own Rooibos Tea Brand. GQ. https://www.gq.co.za/wealth/this-stellenbosch-entrepreneur-has-created-his-own-rooibos-tea-brand-f5d97941-94a4-472e-aec8-04572a3831df

Neimark, J. (2016, August 23). Yes, America Has a Working Tea Plantation. We Visited It. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/08/23/488817144/america-s-only-full-time-tea-taster-talks-about-life-on-the-charleston-tea-plant

Purvis, K. and (1997, October 8). Tea for Two. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-08-9710080133-story.html

Tatum, J. (2013, February 25). Tea times in Summerville. The Summerville Journal Scene. https://www.postandcourier.com/journal-scene/news/tea-times-in-summerville/article_e8f5c862-97b7-5a54-87fe-1e053e731088.html

Webster, D. (2000). Two for Tea: America’s only commercial tea crop is grown on an island with plants more than a century old. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/two-for-tea-100768628/

Wikipedia Contributors. (2020, August 6). Charleston Tea Garden. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charleston_Tea_Garden&oldid=971490436