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T

The history of tea consumption in the United States dates back to
the colonial era. Tea was introduced to the colonies by British
settlers in the 1600s.

THE

HISTORY OF

North America’s Classic Tea

W hen my friend and I embarked on a three-week road trip to the

U.S. East Coast, we didn’t expect to find a tea farm in South
Carolina. But there it was, on Wadmalaw Island just outside of
Charleston: The Charleston Tea Garden. Since my friend is an
avid tea drinker, we decided to take the tour and learn more about this unique
place. My initial surprise about finding a tea farm in the United States was
quickly replaced by curiosity when our tour guide told us that the climate on
Wadmalaw Island is actually very similar to that of tea-growing regions in Asia.
In fact, all of the tea plants at The Charleston Tea Garden are descendants of
Asian tea plants brought over by early settlers.

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