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The Tea House Times

www.theteahousetimes.com

 

TOURS WITH THE TEA HOUSE TIMES TO CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION FOR GROUPS OF 20 OR MORE. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

 

The following news and facts about Charleston Tea Plantation are reprinted by permission of R.C. Bigelow Inc. 

Click each heading or scroll down to read more about Charleston Tea Plantation. 

Don't miss the Mar/Apr 2006 issue of The Tea House Times with more in depth, historical background information about the Charleston Tea Plantation including photos.  And more wonderful coverage about Charleston and the Tea Plantation in our July/August issue and the Golden Age of Inns celebration in Summerville, SC in our Sept/Oct issue.  (see event listing).

 

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TEA HOUSE TIMES TODAY. CLICK HERE.

 

Charleston Tea Plantation Hours of Operation: Wednesday through Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm    Sunday: noon to 4 pm

The Official Grand Re-Opening of Charleston Tea Plantation is May 12, 2006  www.CharlestonTeaGardens.com

 

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A TRAVEL LOG OF CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION

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NEWS & FACTS ABOUT CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION:

 

CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION MAY 11, 2006 NEWS RELEASE

ABOUT CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION

HOW TEA IS MADE AT THE CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION

ALL ABOUT R.C. BIGELOW, INC.~BIGELOW TEA

WHO ARE THEY?~ 

      DAVID & EUNICE BIGELOW, LORI BIGELOW, WILLIAM HALL

TEA INDUSTRY FACTS

CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION JANUARY 6, 2006 NEWS RELEASE: 

      HISTORIC LOWCOUNTRY GEM RESTORED

                                                                                                        

                                                                                                        

CONTACTS:  Taina Dube, Mason Onofrio Public Relations                Wilson Camelo, Mason Onofrio

                         203-314-9997 (Cell Phone)                                         203-393-1101, Ext. 156

                         tdube@mason23.com                                                 wcamelo@mason23.com

 

 

R.C. Bigelow, Inc. Re-opens Nation’s Only Tea Plantation

 

Tea maker and partner restore historic farm, the only place in North America

where tea making can be experienced from leaf to cup

 

 

CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 11, 2006) – During a celebration today marking the historic occasion, R.C. Bigelow, Inc. announced that it has fully restored and re-opened the Charleston Tea Plantation, America’s only tea farm. Today’s event follows three years of restructuring the plantation into a one-of-a-kind exposition to tea.

Located 25 minutes outside of Charleston on Wadmalaw Island, the plantation produces American Classic Tea and offers free public tours (group tours involve a fee & unique tour options).  Founded in 1960, the plantation hosts several hundred thousand tea bushes, which are descendants of bushes originally brought over from China and India during the 1800s.  

Greeting the more than 100 guests were David C. Bigelow, owner and co-chairman, R.C. Bigelow, Inc.; William B. Hall, partner and tea taster, Charleston Tea Plantation; Hugh Weathers, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture; Allen Mitchell, author, Wadmalaw Island: Leaving Traditional Roots Behind; and, Mayor Barbara Ambrose, Rockville, S.C.

 “We are honored to give back to the tea industry by preserving America’s only tea plantation,” said David Bigelow. “It’s a dream come true to be able to show tea lovers and the others how tea is grown and processed from leaf to cup.”  

“Wadmalaw Island is in the heart of the historic Lowcountry and an ideal climate for growing tea because of sub-tropical temperatures, frequent rain and high humidity,” said Lori Bigelow, co-president of R.C. Bigelow, Inc. and present at the ceremony.  “The Bigelow family purchased the plantation in 2003, and working closely with our partner William Hall, we have made the plantation visitor-friendly and once again capable of producing American Classic Tea.”  Hall is a third-generation tea expert who completed a four-year tea apprentice in England and created American Classic Tea in 1987.

Tea enthusiasts will be able to learn from Hall and other on-site tea experts, sample American Classic Tea in the gift shop and experience the craft of local artisans. American Classic Tea is a high-quality black tea with a mild tone and sweet flavor.  

Visitors can view the tea-making process from a new factory featuring an air-conditioned 125-foot long window gallery overlooking the equipment needed for manufacturing tea from the raw leaf to finished black tea.  In the event tea is not being processed on a particular day, three giant TV screens have been placed strategically along the gallery to illustrate each step of the process in great detail.

“Tea has been enjoyed for nearly 5,000 years,” said Hall. “Legend says tea was born when a leaf from a camellia sinensis bush fell into the water being boiled for the Chinese Emperor. The Emperor found the resulting drink so delicious that he demanded it be served to him from then on, and today, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world a part from water.”

“This unique travel destination is an attraction for tea enthusiasts, nature lovers, historians, horticulturalists, families and anyone looking for a peaceful get away at America’s only tea plantation,” added David Bigelow.

 

According to the Tea Association of the USA:

  • Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water

  • Americans consumed more than 50 billion servings of tea in 2004

  • 65 percent of tea brewed in the United States in 2004 was prepared using tea bags

  • Tea is one of the largest agricultural products in the world. Nearly 35 billion pounds of tea leaves were harvested last year, enough to produce nearly 7 billion pounds of finished tea

 

Tours are available Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.  For more information, please visit www.charlestonteagardens.com or call (843) 559-0383. 

 

About R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

Based in Fairfield, Conn., R.C. Bigelow, Inc. has produced quality teas for 60 years.  The company takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one product, entrepreneurial venture to one of the nation's leading specialty tea makers.  The Bigelow tea line includes more than 50 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas - including America's number one specialty tea flavor, "Constant Comment."  For more information, please visit us on the web at www.bigelowtea.com.

- End-

 

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The Charleston Tea Plantation

 

Overview

The Charleston Tea Plantation is the only tea plantation in North America. Located on Wadmalaw Island, SC, the region is commonly referred to as the Lowcountry and known for its frequent rain and high heat and humidity, the ideal climate for growing tea. The nearest tea plantation is located more than 4,000 miles away. Founded in 1960, the plantation is home to bushes brought to the Lowcountry in the mid-1800s from China.

 

A brand new factory has been built featuring an air-conditioned 125 foot long window gallery overlooking all the various pieces of equipment needed for manufacturing tea. Charleston Tea Plantation may be the only exposition hall of its kind in the world where visitors can learn how tea is made… from the raw leaf to finished black tea. In the event tea is not being processed on a particular day, three giant TV screens have been placed strategically along the gallery illustrate each step of the tea making process in great detail.

 

The Charleston Tea Plantation is home to American Classic Tea. This high-quality black tea has a mild tone and sweet flavor. It is produced on-site at the plantation from the bushes on hand.

 

Location:                    Wadmalaw Island, SC, 25 minutes outside of Charleston, SC

 

Bushes:                       Several hundred thousand tea bushes

 

Acres:                         Approximately 127 acres

 

Growing season:        April to October

 

Climate:                      Average of 75 days of rain, sub-tropical climate

 

About R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

Based in Fairfield, Conn., R.C. Bigelow, Inc. has produced quality teas for 60 years.  The company takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one product, entrepreneurial venture to one of the nation’s leading specialty tea makers.  The Bigelow tea line includes more than 50 varieties of flavored, traditional, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas – including America’s number one specialty tea flavor, “Constant Comment.”  For more information, please visit us on the web at www.bigelowtea.com.

 

 

Media Contact:

 

Taina Dube, Mason Onofrio Public Relations

(203) 393-1101 x146

tdube@mason23.com

 

Norm Morneau, Mason Onofrio Public Relations

(203) 393-1101 x109

nmorneau@mason23.com

 

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HOW TEA IS MADE AT THE CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION

 

Tea originates from the Camelis Sinensis bush, an evergreen that is a relative of the camellia family. It thrives in high temperatures and humid conditions making Charleston, SC the ideal climate to produce tea. Summer temperatures typically exceed 100 degrees and the average annual rainfall is 50 inches. The tea bushes are dormant in the winter (November – April), but during the summer growing season (May – October) flush up two to three inches of new growth every 14-21 days. Charleston Tea Plantation harvests these fresh young leaves to make American Classic Tea.

 

The tea bushes are maintained at a height of 40 inches and are laid out in long hedge rows approximately five feet wide. To harvest the new growth we employ a one of kind machine, which straddles the hedges and uses horizontally mounted, five foot wide sickle bar to cut off the new growth. A powerful blower mounted on the front of the machine blows the fresh cuttings into a chute that feeds a collection bin in the back. Every 30-40 minutes the fresh cuttings are transferred to a truck and brought back to the factory. There the leaves are laid evenly, 12 inches deep, on slow moving mesh belts called withering beds. The withering beds are 19 feet wide by 47 feet long and are capable of holding 5,000 pounds of leaves. Once the belts are fully loaded the tea will sit for about 18 hours. During this time the leaves will lose 15 percent of their moisture, becoming soft and pliable and ready for the next step.

 

To understand how tea is made, it is important to know that the tea leaf is made up of millions of cells each filled with the minutest amount of liquid. To make tea, the leaf must be shredded thus rupturing these cells and exposing the liquid to the oxygen in the air. The amount of time that the liquid on the broken leave is exposed to the oxygen in the air determines whether black tea, oolong tea or green tea is produced.

 

In order to rupture these cells the tea leaves pass through three machines called roto-vanes. The roto-vanes are cylindrical chambers in which blades spin at very high speeds tearing the leaves into tiny pieces.

 

The tiny pieces of tea leaves are now laid two inches deep in an oxidation bed, which is six feet wide by 28 feet long. During the 50 minutes that the leaves lay on the oxidation bed, a complex all-natural chemical reaction takes place creating the color, body and flavor that is known as black tea.

 

If the crushed tea leaves had been left in the oxidation bed for only 15 minutes instead of 50 minutes, we would have created oolong tea – which is popular in Chinese restaurants. Had the oxidation bed been by-passed and the crushed tea leaves had gone directly to the dryer, we would have produced green tea.

 

In order to stop the oxidation process, tea is placed in a dryer. The dyer is a chamber some five feet wide and 18 feet long in which there is a series of seven belts one above the other, each moving in an opposite direction. There, at a temperature of 250 degrees, the tea leaves move back and forth dropping from one belt to the other for a period of 25 minutes. During this time each tiny piece of tea leaf will curl up, sealing in all the good flavor.

 

As the tea leaves the dryer it has lost 97 percent of its moisture and 80 percent of its weight. It takes five pounds of fresh tea leaves from the field to produce one pound of finished tea.

 

In the final step the tea passes through two large sieves to remove the stalk and fiber left over from the harvesting process. The remarkable and delicious flavor of our finished black tea will now become an integral part of our American Classic Tea. 

 

HOW TO MAKE AMERICAN CLASSIC TEA AT HOME

 

Step 1 – Bring cold, fresh water to a rolling boil and pour immediately over the tea bag. Make sure the water is boiling and not just hot since boiling water unlocks all the good flavor of tea.

Step 2 – Allow the tea to steep, one minute in the cup or three to five minutes in the teapot.

Step 3 – Serve 

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION

History and Background

 

1. Where is The Charleston Tea plantation located? How large is the plantation?

The plantation encompasses nearly 127 acres and is located on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina just 25 minutes outside of Charleston.

 

2. Why is there a tea plantation in South Carolina?

Wadmalaw Island is located in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, which is an ideal climate for growing tea due to the sub-tropical climate that has frequent rain and high humidity.

 

3. What is the history of the plantation?

The tea plants found at the Charleston Tea Plantation were brought to the region in the 1800’s from China and India.

 

Established in 1888 just northwest of Charleston, Summerville, South Carolina was the first home to the plantation. Until 1915, the plantation was a major national producer of black tea. Then the plantation was derelict for 45 years until 1960, when it was purchased by the Lipton Tea Company. After purchasing the plantation, Lipton moved it to a more suitable location on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina.  By this time the plantation had become the only functional, commercial tea plantation in the country.

 

The plantation was sold by Lipton in 1987 to tea expert Bill Hall and a partner. In 1988 they created the American Classic Tea brand from the tea leaves grown at the Charleston Tea Plantation.

 

R.C. Bigelow, Inc. purchased the plantation in 2003, and working with Bill Hall, has invested resources to pursue extensive modernization, making the plantation visitor friendly and capable of processing high-quality black tea. In January, 2006 tours resumed at the plantation allowing guests the opportunity to view the tea making process first hand -- from fresh leaves in the field to finished tea.

 

4. Where did the tea bushes originate?

The tea bushes are descendants of the original bushes brought to South Carolina from India and China nearly 200 years.

 

5. Charleston Tea Plantation is the only tea plantation in North American, where is the next nearest tea plantation?

The nearest tea plantation is located 4,000 miles away in South America.

 

6. Is tea produced all year around? 

No.  The growing season is from April through October.  From November to March, the plants are dormant. The tea bushes “flush up” two to three inches of new growth every 14-21 days during growing season.

 

7. How long, from the field to finished product, does it take to make American Classic Tea?

The entire tea-making process takes more than 20 hours.

 

Bigelow Sale & Renovation

 

8. Why did Bigelow purchase the plantation? Can you tell me why the previous owners sold the plantation?

In 2003, Bigelow purchased the plantation from its previous owners to preserve a piece of American history and ensure that the plantation would have a thriving and prosperous future.

 

9. Did Bigelow begin the restoration of the plantation immediately afterwards?

Restoration began immediately after the plantation was purchased beginning with nurturing the plants and soil and constructing a new, state-of-the-art tea processing facility.

 

10. What was the condition of the plants when Bigelow took ownership of the plantation?

The plants were in good condition, but since April 2003, the plants have received thousands of hours of attention and care and have been the plantation’s first priority. A new irrigation system and nursery have been key additions in the past three years to help maintain and grow the tea bushes.

 

11. What type of repairs did Bigelow make to the plantation after the purchase?

Bigelow has purchased new equipment, installed an improved irrigation system, and created a state-of-the-art tea-processing facility that includes a glass viewing gallery.

 

12. Are there any historical photos of the plantation available from before restoration began or before the Bigelow’s took ownership?

At this time, historical photos of the plantation are not available to the public. In the future, the public “Tourway” walls will feature historic photos to help preserve the unique history of America’s only tea plantation.

 

What to do at the plantation

 

13. What does the tour include?

Visitors can view how tea is made from a new factory featuring an air-conditioned, 125-foot-long window gallery overlooking the tea producing machines needed for processing fresh-picked tea. In the event tea is not being processed on a particular day, three large, flat-screened televisions have been placed strategically along the gallery to illustrate each step of the tea making process in great detail.

 

 Following the tour, guests are invited to sample American Classic Tea in the gift shop and experience the craft of local artisans. On-site tea experts will be on hand to answer guest’s questions.

 

14. What is offered in the gift shop?

The gift shop features a wide range of crafts and quality snack items from local artisans and an assortment of Bigelow tea and tea accessories available in the gift shop on a rotating basis as the inventory is sold and replenished.

 

15. Who are they types of people to visit the plantation?

The plantation is an attraction for tea enthusiasts interested in how tea is made, nature lovers, historians, horticulturalists, families and anyone in Charleston, the Atlanta region and across the country, looking for a peaceful get away at America’s only tea plantation.

 

Bigelow – Company Facts

 

16. When was R.C. Bigelow, Inc. established?

The company was founded in 1945 and is now celebrating its 60th anniversary as a family-owned private company.

 

17. Who is the founder of the R.C. Bigelow Inc.?

Ruth Campbell Bigelow pioneered the specialty tea industry in her kitchen because she believed tea enthusiasts like herself would enjoy a more flavorful cup of tea.

 

18. What was the first tea R.C. Bigelow made? How many teas are available now? Where are they available?

Based in Fairfield, Conn., R.C. Bigelow, Inc. has produced quality teas for 60 years.  The company takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one product, entrepreneurial venture to one of the nation’s leading specialty tea makers.  The Bigelow tea line includes more than 50 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas – including America’s number one specialty tea flavor, “Constant Comment.”  For more information, please visit us on the web at www.bigelowtea.com.

 

 

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R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

 

Overview

R.C. Bigelow, Inc., a family owned and operated business, grew out of one woman’s kitchen and her passion for tea. Ruth C. Bigelow founded the Bigelow tea company because she believed that more tea enthusiasts, like herself, would enjoy a more flavorful tea. Bigelow pioneered the specialty tea industry by making the first specialty tea “Constant Comment” in the mass produced tea department in supermarkets. Since then Bigelow has grown in the specialty tea industry to become a market leader, available on the shelves of virtually every supermarket in America. The company is now run by her son David Bigelow, his wife Eunice and their two daughters Lori and Cindi.

 

Bigelow now hosts an extensive gift shop on their website with an assortment of tea gifts for all occasions. The Bigelow tea line includes more than 50 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas.

 

Founded:                                 1945

 

Official name:                         R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

 

Headquarters:                        Fairfield, CT

 

Manufacturing Locations:     Boise, ID; Louisville, KY; Fairfield, CT; Wadmalaw Island, SC

 

Production:                             More than 1 billion cups annually

 

Web site:                                www.bigelowtea.com

 

About R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

Based in Fairfield, Conn., R.C. Bigelow, Inc. has produced quality teas for 60 years.  The company takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one product, entrepreneurial venture to one of the nation’s leading specialty tea makers.  The Bigelow tea line includes more than 50 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas – including America’s number one specialty tea flavor, “Constant Comment.”  For more information, please visit us on the web at www.bigelowtea.com.

 

Media Contact:

 

Taina Dube, Mason Onofrio Public Relations

(203) 393-1101 x146

tdube@mason23.com

 

Norm Morneau, Mason Onofrio Public Relations

(203) 393-1101 x109

nmorneau@mason23.com

 

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David C. Bigelow and Eunice J. Bigelow

Co-Chairpersons of the Board, R.C. Bigelow Inc.

  

R.C. Bigelow, Inc., a family owned and operated business for more than 60 years, grew out of one woman’s kitchen and her passion for tea. Ruth C. Bigelow founded the Bigelow Tea company because she believed that more tea enthusiasts like herself would enjoy a more flavorful tea. Bigelow Tea pioneered the specialty tea industry by introducing the first specialty tea, “Constant Comment,” to the mass produced tea department in supermarkets. Today, Bigelow Tea has become a market leader in the specialty tea industry and is available on the shelves of virtually every supermarket in America. Bigelow Tea is run by David and Eunice Bigelow and their two daughters, Lori and Cindi.

 

Bigelow Tea takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one-product entrepreneurial venture to one of the world’s leading specialty tea makers. In the 1970s David and Eunice, together as a team, led the expansion by increasing sales of Bigelow Teas from gift shops and department stores to grocery stores and grocery store chains. Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow are credited for expanding the specialty tea-line of flavored teas four-fold while unveiling the herbal tea-line of Bigelow Teas. During this time, the flavor-protecting foil pouch was introduced to consumers, where each tea is carefully wrapped to deliver an ultimate taste experience every time it’s brewed.

 

In the 1980s the duo introduced a decaffeinated tea-line of Bigelow flavored teas while expanding their distribution outlets to include the wholesale food and retail markets and food service outlets. Bigelow Tea quickly expanded again from its then Norwalk, Conn. headquarters by opening facilities in Boise, Idaho and Louisville, Kentucky. This move allowed Bigelow Tea to better service and efficiently distribute its specialty teas nationwide.

 

In the 1990’s Bigelow Tea moved its corporate operations to Fairfield, Connecticut upon the completion of a state-of-the-art blending facility. Their first new product in the new facility was the fruit juice tea-line, a 100 percent natural herbal tea with real fruit juice perfect for the whole family.

 

In 2005, Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow transitioned into Co-Chairpersons of the Board while extending their leadership responsibilities to their daughters Cindi and Lori Bigelow as Co-Presidents.  

 

Today, Bigelow hosts an extensive gift shop on their website with an assortment of tea gifts for all occasions. The Bigelow tea line boasts more than 70 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas – including America’s number one specialty tea flavor, “Constant Comment.”

 

 

About R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

Based in Fairfield, Conn., R.C. Bigelow, Inc. has produced quality teas for 60 years.  The company takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one product, entrepreneurial venture to one of the nation’s leading specialty tea makers.  The Bigelow tea line includes more than 70 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas – including America’s number one specialty tea flavor, “Constant Comment.”  For more information, please visit us on the web at www.bigelowtea.com.     

 

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Lori Bigelow

Co-President, R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

 

Lori Bigelow is Co-President of R.C. Bigelow, Inc., the U.S. market leader in flavored teas, and a leading figure in the North American tea industry. Today, Bigelow Tea remains a family owned and operated business since the company was founded by her grandmother, Ruth Campbell Bigelow, in 1945. Headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, the company produces in excess of 1.4 billion tea bags annually at three manufacturing facilities.

 

With more than 25 years of tea industry experience, Lori is well known throughout international flavoring-houses for her expertise in sourcing and blending teas, as well as for her ability to combine flavors with unique tea blends to create the perfect cup of tea. In addition to her responsibilities at Bigelow, Lori serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Tea Council, a position she has held for many years.

 

With the Bigelow purchase of the Charleston Tea Plantation in April 2003, Lori oversees corporate leadership responsibilities for America’s only tea garden. Her responsibilities include strategic operational planning to improve efficiencies and bring the Bigelow standard consumers have grown to trust to the American Classic Tea brand.

 

During her career at Bigelow, Lori has worked in multiple departments from Finance to Sales and Marketing before assuming responsibility of the company’s Research and Development and Quality Assurance Departments.

 

Today, Lori oversees Bigelow’s Tea Division where she is accountable for quality assurance, purchasing ingredients, overseeing the blending process, managing the research and development process, and lab testing of new tea varieties. Lori graduated with a degree in Science from the University of New Hampshire and has received training as a nurse.

 

 

About R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

Based in Fairfield, Conn., R.C. Bigelow, Inc. has produced quality teas for 60 years.  The company takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one product, entrepreneurial venture to one of the nation’s leading specialty tea makers.  The Bigelow tea line includes more than 70 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas – including America’s number one specialty tea flavor, “Constant Comment.”  For more information, please visit us on the web at www.bigelowtea.com.   

   

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William Barclay Hall

Partner, Charleston Tea Plantation

  

William B. Hall, a world-renowned tea taster and tea maker, is a partner with Bigelow Tea overseeing the daily operations at the Charleston Tea Plantation. He has been with the Charleston Tea Plantation, America’s only tea garden, since 1987 when he established the American Classic Tea brand.   

 

William is an expert, third-generation tea taster, who received his formal training during a four-year tea apprenticeship in London, England. As one of the few tea tasters today, he is also an international tea buyer who has traveled extensively throughout the tea growing regions of the world.  His broad spectrum of tea knowledge ensures American Classic Tea’s quality from the field to the cup.

 

As an expert in tea, William applies his practical and horticulturalist knowledge of the Camellia Sinensis bush to analyze the optimal soil types, climate, weather conditions, rain-fall, irrigation, and harvest time to deliver a quality and consistent cup of American Classic Tea each time it’s brewed. He is also responsible for processing, manufacturing, packaging, and delivering the final product of tea for the Charleston Tea Plantation.

 

William was born in Winnipeg, Canada and owns William H. Hall & Company, Inc., an international tea-trading company. He is also a tea consultant to a major U.S. supermarket chain and does consulting work around the world. 

 

  

About R.C. Bigelow, Inc.

Based in Fairfield, Conn., R.C. Bigelow, Inc. has produced quality teas for 60 years.  The company takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one product, entrepreneurial venture to one of the nation’s leading specialty tea makers.  The Bigelow tea line includes more than 70 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas – including America’s number one specialty tea flavor, “Constant Comment.”  For more information, please visit us on the web at www.bigelowtea.com.      

 

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The Tea Industry

 

Tea has been around for nearly 5,000 years. Legend says that a leaf from a camellia sinensis bush fell into the water being boiled for the Chinese Emperor. The emperor found the resulting drink so delicious that he demanded it be served to him from then on, which is how tea was born.

 

  • Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water

 

  • Americans consumed more than 50 billion servings of tea in 2004

 

  • 65 percent of tea brewed in the United States in 2004 was prepared using tea bags

 

  • Away from home consumption has increased by 10 percent annually over the past decade

 

  • It takes five pounds of fresh tea leaves to make one pound on finished tea

 

  • Tea is one of the largest agricultural products in the world. Nearly 35 billion pounds of tea leaves were harvested last year, enough to produce nearly 7 billion pounds of finished tea

 

  • Each pound of tea can produce more than 200 cups of tea

 

  • 85 percent of all tea consumed in the United States is in the form of iced tea

 

  • There are three types of tea: black, green and oolong. Each type comes from the camellia sinesis bush, but it is the amount of oxidation that the crushed or broken leaf receives that determines the type

 

  • Tea is naturally resistant to insects and disease. That is why there are no insecticides or fungicides used at Charleston Tea Plantation

 

  • Because most of the world’s tea is picked by hand, the tea industry employs millions of people across the globe

 

  • Although tea has slightly more caffeine content pound per pound, a pound of tea makes 200 cups whereas a pound of coffee makes only 40 cups. A typical cup of tea has 50 – 55 milligrams of caffeine. A cup of coffee has 150 milligrams of caffeine

 

  • Tea grows in some 34 countries around the world including Argentina, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka

 

  • There’s enough tea produced annually to make over 200 cups of tea for every man, woman, and child on our planet

 

Facts courtesy of the Tea Association of the USA, Inc. www.teausa.com

 

Bigelow Media Contacts:

Taina Dube, Mason Onofrio Public Relations    Norm Morneau, Mason Onofrio Public Relations

(203) 393-1101 x146                                                  (203) 393-1101 x109

tdube@mason23.com                                                   nmorneau@mason23.com

 

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Historic Lowcountry Gem Restored:

Charleston Tea Plantation Opens for Tours

Charleston Tea Plantation an exposition to tea;

the only place to view the tea making process in the United States. 

Next tea plantation is more than 4,000 miles away.

 

CHARLESTON, S.C. (January 6, 2006) -- The Charleston Tea Plantation announced today that it is open to the public for tours Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The plantation, located at 6617 Maybank Hwy., Wadmalaw Island, will serve as an exposition to tea and the tea making process.

 

R.C. Bigelow Inc. based in Fairfield, Conn., a leading specialty tea maker for more than 60 years, lovingly restored the plantation which produces American Classic Tea, a high-quality black tea with a mild tone and sweet flavor.  Founded in 1960, the plantation hosts several hundred thousand tea bushes, which are descendants of bushes originally brought over from China and India during the 1800s.

 

We are honored to give back to the tea lovers by preserving the only American tea plantation where anyone can view the tea making process," David Bigelow, owner of R.C. Bigelow Inc.  "It's a dream come true to be able to share with the public the tea making process along with the beauty this historic Lowcountry treasure has to offer."

 

"Our goal is to educate the public on how tea is grown and processed," said William Hall, partner of Charleston Tea Plantation.  "We are thrilled to offer a high-quality black tea to tea lovers and tourists and proud to produce American Classic Tea with no insecticides or fungicides since tea leaves are naturally resistant to insects and disease."

 

Charleston Tea Plantation may be the only exhibition hall of its kind in the world where visitors can learn how tea is made.  Visitors can view the tea-making process from a brand new factory featuring an air-conditioned 125 foot long window gallery overlooking all the various pieces of equipment needed for manufacturing tea . . . . from the raw leaf to finished black tea.  In the event tea is not being processed on a particular day, three giant TV screens have been placed strategically along the gallery to illustrate each step of the tea making process in great detail.

 

Tea enthusiasts will also be able to learn from on-site tea experts, be invited to sample American Classic Tea in the gift shop and experience the craft of local artisans.

 

Tea has been around for nearly 5,000 years.  Legend says tea was born when a leaf from a camellia sinensis bush fell into the water being boiled for the Chinese Emperor.  The Emperor found the resulting drink so delicious that he demanded it be served to him from then on.

 

According to the Tea Association of the USA:

  • Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water

  • Americans consumed more than 50 billion servings of tea in 2004

  • 65 percent of tea brewed in the United States in 2004 was prepared using tea bags

  • Tea is one of the largest agricultural products in the world.  Nearly 35 billion pounds of tea leaves were harvested last year, enough to produce nearly 7 billion pounds of finished tea

How to make American Classic Iced Tea at home:

Step 1 -- Place three tea bags into a one-quart container and pour one cup (8 oz.) of boiling water over the tea bags.

Step 2 -- Steep for 5 minutes or to desired strength

Step 3 -- Squeeze and remove tea bags.  Add three cups (24 oz.) of fresh cold water and serve over ice.

 

How to make American Classic Hot Tea at home:

Step 1 -- Bring cold, fresh water to a rolling boil and pour immediately over the tea bag.  Make sure the water is boiling and not just hot since boiling water unlocks all the good flavor of tea.

Step 2 -- Allow the tea to steep, one minute in the cup or three to five minutes in the teapot.

Step 3 -- Serve.

 

For more information, please visit www.charlestonteagardens.com or call (843) 559-0383

 

About R.C. Bigelow Inc.

Based in Fairfiled, Conn., R.C. Bigelow, Inc. has produced quality teas for 60 years.  The company takes pride in its family heritage and its successful growth from a small, one product, entrepreneurial venture to one of the nation's leading specialty tea makers.  The Bigelow tea line includes more than 50 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas - including America's number one specialty tea flavor, "Constant Comment."  For more information, please visit www.bigelowtea.com

 

Don't miss the Mar/Apr 2006 issue of The Tea House Times with more in depth, historical background information about the Charleston Tea Plantation including photos.  And more wonderful coverage about Charleston and the Tea Plantation in our July/August issue AND the Golden Age of Inns celebration in Summerville, SC in our Sept/Oct 2006 issue. (see event listing).

 

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The news and facts on this page are reprinted by permission of R.C. Bigelow Inc. 

 

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