These U.S. Tea Farms Are Brewing Up the World’s Favorite Beverage
Enjoyed both hot and cold, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water. And while tea plants are indigenous to China, American consumption of tea and tea products is on the rise. In fact, tea can be found in the kitchens of almost 80% of U.S. households. According to the Tea Association of the U.S.A., Americans drink 4 billion gallons of the beverage per year – to the benefit of not only tea producers but also consumers since it’s believed to have antioxidant properties and can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and age-related neurological declines and diseases. The popularity of tea around the globe is leading some to wonder if the crop could become the next big commodity for American farmers – and these U.S. tea farms are brewing up newfound potential in the agriculture industry.
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1. Charleston Tea Garden
Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina
Once owned by Lipton (and other companies) and now by the Bigelow Tea Company, Charleston Tea Garden may have the deepest roots of the Camellia sinensis plant with 127 acres. The brand attests that its “American Classic,” a black tea, was the first to be 100% made from American-grown tea leaves. The company also produces green teas and assorted flavored teas. Tapping into agritourism, Charleston Tea Garden prides itself on being the only working tea farm in the U.S. offering trolley tours and tastings.
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2. Fleur De Lis Tea Company
Loranger, Louisiana
Fleur De Lis Tea Company began as an experimental project in 2017. Gifted a tea plant, owner David Barron found success –despite the region’s wetter climate – to become the only commercial tea producer in Louisiana. Fleur De Lis has multiple plant fields and growing facilities, as well as a tea house and venue space. The signature flavor, “Big Easy,” is a looseleaf black tea with notes of honey, oak and sandalwood.
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3. Light of Day Organics
Traverse City, Michigan
With only 600 tea plants, Light of Day Organics may not produce the largest quantities of tea, but the white, green and oolong tea blends are made from Certified Organic and Demeter Biodynamic leaves. Many of the tea flavors are made entirely using ingredients sourced from this Leelanau County farm’s 55 acres. Ingredients sourced from partner farmers are likewise organic. Light of Day also offers caffeine-free tisanes (herbal teas), matcha capsules, tea-infused chocolates and other specialty items.
See more: Michigan-Made Tea Pours Local Ingredients Into Every Cup
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4. Longleaf Tea Company
Laurel, Mississippi
Connecting to its roots, the namesake of this U.S. tea farm, which began in 2018, honors the longleaf pines that peppered the land for generations. Inspired by a trip to Shanghai, Hillary and Thomas Steinwinder embraced their curiosity of growing and producing small-batch black, green and white tea in Mississippi. Sharing lessons learned, the couple chronicles the “science and art” of their farming journey in their “Field Notes” blog.
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5. Maui Tea Farm
Kula, Hawaii
When thinking about Hawaii’s top exported agricultural products, one may think of coffee, macadamia nuts, pineapple or cattle. However, Hawaii has more tea farms than any other state in the country.
“Our tea plants are offspring of teas from the Big Island of Hawaii, with genetics tracing back to India,” says Andrea de Roodeour, who has co-owned Maui Tea Farm since 2012 with her husband, Alex. “At the Maui Tea Farm, we develop our own recipes for green tea, and the semi-oxidized style of tea known as ‘blue-green’ oolong and yellow teas.”
In the volcanic slopes near Haleakalā National Park, Maui Tea Farm grows tea and herbs, as well as diverse fruits and vegetables like citrus, apples, avocado, kale, radishes and much more.
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6. Minto Island Tea Company
Salem, Oregon
Minto Island Tea Company began in 1988 and, to this day, continues to produce certified organic, handpicked, small-batch crafted teas. Growing green, oolong and black teas in the Willamette Valley, Minto Island is committed to advancing Oregon-grown goods, as well as furthering the U.S.-made tea movement.
7. Orfiblue Farm
Lake Wales, Florida
The Sunshine State is known for its vibrant citrus but, according to farmer Herbert Frauwallner, Florida is also teed up for U.S. tea farming. Focused on organic, Orfiblue Farm makes assorted tea flavors, each of which offers distinctive health benefits. The company’s current tea line includes blueberry tea, insulina tea, moringa tea, passionfruit tea and a specialty mixed blend named Organic Miraculous Leaf Tea Blend.
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8. The Great Mississippi Tea Company
Brookhaven, Mississippi
Humbly starting with just six tea plants in a backyard about a decade ago, the Great Mississippi Tea Company now has roughly 40,000 tea plants on their sustainable farm. The selection includes black tea, green tea, oolong tea, pine needle tea and yellow tea. Tea drinkers can also participate in the tea-making process during an immersive farm tour.
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9. Table Rock Tea Company
Pickens, South Carolina
Growing tea since 2006, owners Steve and Jennifer Lorch hope this region of South Carolina will become known as “tea country,” in the same way Napa Valley is recognized as wine country. Specializing in handcrafted, artisan green, black and oolong tea, Table Rock was deemed a finalist for the “Best Tea Brand” honor at the World Tea Awards in 2016. Ten percent of all product sales benefit the Connectivity Fund, the charitable giving arm of Table Rock Tea Company.
Discover More U.S. Tea Farms
- Abby’s Ohana Tea – Hilo, Hawaii
- Big Island Tea – Mountain View, Hawaii
- Bella Vista Tea Company – Red Bluff, California
- Black Creek Nursery & Garden – Ellabell, Georgia
- Camellia Forest Tea Gardens – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Catspring Yaupon Tea – Cat Spring, Texas
- Dunaway Gardens Tea Project – Newnan, Georgia
- Fairhope Tea Plantation – Fairhope, Alabama
- Finger Lakes Tea Company – Waterloo, New York
- Greenwich Tea Burners Tea – Greenwich, New Jersey
- Katydid Hill – Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania
- Leo Nani Farms – Hakalau, Hawaii
- Mauna Kea Tea – Honokaa, Hawaii
- Sacred Blossom Farm – Mondovi, Wisconsin
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Never realized how many tea producers were in US. Now I just have to locate them in my local grocery store