A Virtual Trip to The Charleston Tea Plantation

Correct me if I’m wrong, but my personal impression of tea in America is that people tend to reach for the coffee pot before they reach for the tea kettle.   While tea is boasted to have numerous health benefits, something about the addictive coffee still has people hooked on the beverage here in the USA.

However, even with all its coffee obsessions, specialty stores boasting coffee and elaborate contraptions to brew a cup o’ joe, America still has only one place where there are coffee plantations – Hawaii.

While tea cannot boat more than one tea plantation either, it does get you to think, no?

So we’re going to take a virtual tour of this tea plantation and what it is that makes this particular one special – The Charleston Tea Plantation in Wadmalaws Island, South Carolina.

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The Wadmalaws Island, approximately 10 miles long and 6 miles wide, was established in mid-June 1666 when Captain Robert Sanford and the crew of the Berkeley Bay landed on Rockville, South Carolina.   The land is generally viewed as being the most untainted, its only connection to the mainland a bridge that crosses over Church Creek.

The plantation was formally established in 1987.   The soil is sandy, the climate sub-tropical, and an average rainfall at a whopping 52 inches per year, the island is perfect for growing tea with over 320 varieties on the full 127 acres.   Their tea plants are used to grow American green and black teas in particular.   Though technically, the tea leaf can manufacture Oolong, white tea, etc, the company has been so busy with their green and black teas that the company decided to focus on those two.   Since the land cannot be commercially developed, it is a picturesque island that has still remained untouched.

Climbing Onto The Tour Trolley

The only tea to be produced by these tender tea leaves?   American Classic Tea.   The tea is harvested in May and is celebrated at the plantation’s annual First Flush FesTEAval, complete with music, entertainment and, of course, tea.   Harvesting continues until the end of September, beginning of October, when the plants are allowed to rest for the season (hey, tea needs sleep, too!).

The Charleston Tea Plantation prides itself on the fact that they are an all-natural tea.   Their tea are flavored with natural essential oils.   They do not decaffeinate any of their teas since that would require the use of chemicals.   The plantation does not even use pesticides to protect the plants from all the bugs.

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This proud Green plantation hosts special events, tours and totes a history for America to be proud of.   Their tea is widely enjoyed but both new sippers and purists and their plantation is a beauty to behold.   See about getting a visit in when you are in the area!   You will not be disappointed.

Yet Another Green Tea Benefit – An Anti-Smoking Agent

 

 

I freely admit, I abhor cigarettes.   There’s no medical benefit to them, it harms those around you, it frankly doesn’t smell that great and close to 90% of lung cancer in men and 80% in women are caused by these white sticks that rob you of your life.   I tell people it’s their choice whether or not they choose to smoke but quite frankly, I also tell them that I feel they’re making a stupid choice.   However, past that, if you really want to smoke, who am I to stop you?

A Break-Down Of What You’re Smoking

With that being said, I know people who do smoke that, sadly, due to the cigarette’s addictive nature, feel like they simply can’t.   Sure, we all know about e-cigarettes, the patch, etc.   However, did you know that green tea is now shown to help kick the habit of smoking?

An article recently published in Science China Life Sciences called ’A Revolutionary Approach for the Cessation of Smoking’, claims that you can make custom-designed cigarettes laced with green tea components in order to help get rid of those smoking cravings.   In clinical trials, after 2 months of smoking this unique cigarette, people reduced their smoking intake by 52%!   The famed nicotine patches and gum, it has been reported by the New York Times, might not help at all and in fact, may even be more harmful than good.

Phinse Philip, a lecturer in the Community Oncology Division of the Malabar Cancer Centre, said, ”A majority of users smoke as it purportedly gives them some form of relaxation. The oral intake of the amino acid L-Theanine, uniquely found in green tea, is known to have anti-stress effects and acts as a relaxing agent. The study conducted in China shows that green tea may be an alternative to quit this addictive habit.”

Thomas Varughese, head of surgical oncology and reconstructive surgery at Kochi’s Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre, even said drinking green tea after quitting smoking completely could contribute to reversing the possibility of lung cancer.   Imagine the revolutionary idea that green tea can not only help people kick a potentially deadly habit, but can also reverse the negative effects!

The health benefits of green tea, at this point, is rather common knowledge.   We are plagued by the media with thoughts of how green tea can cure cancer, make you lose weight, destroy free radicals, etc.   Well, here is another one to add onto this ever-growing list!

So, next time you want to light up, maybe drink up instead.

 

 

Green Tea Bobas { Homemade }

I love Le Zoe Musings’ posts and photos but this one, I think I adore!

Boba tea (popularly known as bubble tea is delightfully tasty, gives you a bit of a pleasant surprise when you slurp up a tapioca ball (found at your local Asian food market) and is chock full of health benefits if you make it using matcha like Le Zoe Musings recommends.

Matcha green tea uses the entire tea leaf.   It is ground into a fine powder and is used for Japanese tea ceremonies.   It is also believed to have that many more health benefits since you do use the whole leaf.

Read more about Le Zoe Musings’ great blog here:

Green Tea Bobas { Homemade }