Sunday, May 6, 2018

Bucket List Check-Off

One of the the things on my "bucket list" when I retired was visiting a tea plantation, which I imagined in the mountains in China.  It wasn't in China but I did make it to a tea plantation, the only large commercial tea plantation in North America, which happens to be just south of Charleston.  

The original plants, several different varieties of tea, were first cultivated commercially in the 1880s and today's plants are hybrids from natural cross-pollination of these originals.  We took a tour through the factory where the leaves are processed and through the plantation where the tea is grown.  The fields had just been harvested (the top few inches are cut every two weeks during the growing season) so they don't look so pretty.




The greenhouse holds lots of small plants ready to go out in the field.  They are overdue to go out, in fact, because the migrant agricultural workers of the past are not allowed to enter the U.S. and Americans are not willing to work in the fields so there aren't enough workers to do the planting.  



We enjoyed our very enthusiastic tour guide, the gorgeous spring day, and the tea plantation.  
Oh, yes -- and all the tea we could drink.  And we did drink our share!  



17 comments:

  1. I live and learn. I had no idea that tea was grown anywhere in North America.

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  2. Had no idea that we grew tea anywhere in the States. Did you sample the tea?

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  3. I didn't know that you in the USA had tea plantations.
    Such a shame that young unemployed people find working in the
    fields is below them..........we have the same disgraceful problem
    here. Strangely though, US backpackers do this kind of work here
    as they travel around Australia.

    Let's hope TURNIP TOP does like tea............good God he'll have to drink
    tea from India, Sri Lanka or China! That just might choke him.....what a lovely
    thought.
    Cheers
    Colin

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  4. I love tea and would enjoy that tea tour. I would like to visit tea plantations in India.

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  5. I've been to China and I don't think we got to see a tea plantation. It's so much work to harvest.

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  6. Always prefer tea to coffee. Nice plantation.

    Have visited one here in Australia some years back..interesting.

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  7. Lucky you - you can buy local tea (providing you liked it - you didn't say). You would think there would be some way to match the unemployed with work like this - a good honest day's work. We have the same thing here - they bring in temporary workers from poorer countries who are prepared to work - but it is legal. Meanwhile our unemployed mooch.

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  8. Nice to know what goes into my morning cuppa. Speaking of which I think it's time for a refill. Cheers!

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  9. How nice they have a tea plantation in your country. Stupid policy not to allow foreigners to work there...

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  10. Tea growing in North america was something I'd never thought about, but it makes sense. I like tea but I'm very fussy about what I drink...just good old strong tea!

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  11. I didn't know there was a tea plantation near Charleston. Just wondering if the tea you drank there was sweetened ice tea or hot tea? :)

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  12. What a great tour, we have the same issues with people not wanting to work in the fields.

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  13. Tea plantations are such lovely places where ever they are in the world aren't they. I am sorry this plantation is having problems with it's workforce. (I am tempted to say Let 'em Stay) In Australia there is a scheme whereby the young travellers can get a 12 month visa to visit, but if they wish to extend for a second year, they need to do farm labour... The migrant issue is having a big impact in the UK too after Brexit, the only issue is that we are not likely to run out of tea but doctors and nurses...
    I'm off for a cuppa whilst I still can :)
    Wren x

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  14. Dear Cynthia, as a long-time tea drinker, I was astounded to learn that tea is grown here in the United States, even if it's only at this one place. I'd so enjoy visiting there. What's your favorite tea? Mine is oolong and gunpowder, both of which I discovered years ago at at tea shoppe in St. Paul, Minnesota. On its shelves were jars and jars of different kinds of tea. A treasure trove.

    As to the farm laborers, I've heard from a number of people--for instance, the supervisor of the team that did my roofing--that there are so many jobs here in our country that Americans aren't willing to do. I know that immigration has many ramifications that I don't know about or understand, but we are a country of immigrants and so I find myself flummoxed by the attitude of "Keep 'em out!" Peace.

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  15. I hope the tea was good! A raise in wages might bring in some willing workers:)

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  16. That would be an interesting place to visit. As to the immigrant workers, the crab industry here in MD is suffering because the crab pickers who come each year from Mexico have been denied the visas to enter (or didn't win the limited lottery). The whole economy of that part of MD and VA is suffering as a result of the short sightedness of the President. He got his immigrant workers at Mar Lago and I'm sure all his golf courses.

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  17. what a lovely day! And hi! New to your blog!

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