Discovering a Hidden Tea Field in South Carolina

Get a taste of the best homemade tea from Table Rock Tea Company, a thriving business rooted in passion.

I used to think that I'd have to fly to Kenya or China to see a tea field. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there was a small tea company only 45 minutes away near Table Rock Mountain, SC, USA.

Upon arriving, I saw a tea field going up the side of a steep hillside in neat hedges. There was more of the stuff growing everywhere I looked as I drove down the gravel driveway.

The place is run by a couple, Steve and Jennifer Lorch, who learned everything they know about growing tea in the country of Kenya. On a free tour of their extensive farm, they told me the story about how they started with one small hedge of tea by their driveway and a small batch of home made tea for Christmas gifts.

"Our friends said it was the best tea they've ever had. That was all the encouragement Steve needed to start a business around it," Jennifer said with a laugh.

Table Rock Tea may have started as a small business, but it continues to grow with each passing year. Tea hedges now flourish throughout the property, varying in age from one to four years. The presence of Table Rock Mountain in the distance adds a touch of significance to the surroundings. It's difficult not to feel enchanted, so I give up trying.

During Jennifer's informative tour, I learned that black tea, white tea, and green tea all come from the same plant, camellia sinensis. This allows Table Rock Tea to produce a unique assortment of teas, including a special chai blend crafted by Jennifer herself, various black teas, an oolong, a festive Christmas tea, several green teas, and herbal infusions.

Jennifer also talked about how great tea is for the environment and how well it does in South Carolina. In Charleston, there is a tea plantation that requires a lot of watering. But up here closer to the mountains, tea plants don't require water being brought to them. They grow a long tap-root that enables them to survive even the driest summers. This also means that Table Rock Tea has a sustainable future, one without expensive water or irrigation ditches.

What impressed me even more was that Steve and Jennifer manage the entire operation themselves. Tea pickers are hired during the first flush, or picking season, but the majority of the work falls on this dedicated couple. The community has also embraced the tea industry, with local farmers growing tea and selling it back to Table Rock Tea Company. This mutually beneficial arrangement fosters expansion without the need for purchasing additional land and spreads awareness of the growing tea culture in South Carolina.

My time at Table Rock Tea Company gave me a fascinating glimpse into the world of tea and the tea-making process. I left with an even deeper appreciation for the plant and the beverage, and an invitation from Steve and Jennifer to "come back soon." As I drove back down the hedge lined driveway, tea plants waving in the wind, I knew I would be taking them up on that invitation.

Click here for Table Rock Tea Company's website.

https://tablerocktea.com/