Loading image: An image of Bill Hall at Charleston Tea Garden, the only tea farm growing American tea.
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The History of Charleston Tea Garden
The Arrival of Tea in America
(Late 1700s – 1915)
Tea bushes (Camellia Sinensis) first arrived in the U.S. from China in the late 1700s, but early attempts to cultivate tea in South Carolina failed. In 1888, Dr. Charles Shepard established the Pinehurst Tea Plantation in Summerville, SC, where he successfully grew award-winning tea until his passing in 1915. After his death, the plantation closed, and the tea plants grew wild for the next 45 years.
A New Beginning on Wadmalaw Island
(1963 – 1987)
In 1963, a 127-acre potato farm on Wadmalaw Island was purchased, and Shepard’s tea plants were transplanted there for research. For 24 years, scientists studied tea cultivation, but it wasn’t until 1987 that William Barclay Hall, a third-generation tea taster trained in London, transformed the farm into a commercial operation. Under Hall’s leadership, "American Classic" tea became the first tea made entirely from U.S.-grown leaves, quickly gaining popularity in the Carolinas.
Growth & Bigelow Partnership
(2003 – 2020)
To preserve the majestic nature of the farm from being sold to developers the Bigelow family of Bigelow Tea purchased the beautiful garden in 2003 from William Barclay Hall. Soon after, the Charleston Tea Garden prospered, unveiling new tea varieties while upholding its iconic ”American Classic” blend.
A New Chapter & Legacy
(2020 – Today)
In 2020, the name changed from Charleston Tea Plantation to Charleston Tea Garden, honoring the land’s agricultural roots and recognizing the historical weight of the word “plantation.” Today, the Garden continues to thrive under the Bigelow family, offering visitors a one-of-a-kind experience on America’s oldest and largest tea farm.
Loading image: Aerial image of Charleston Tea Garden in Charleston, SC, a Bigelow Tea Company partner.
Experience our history
Come explore the beauty of Charleston Tea Garden, where hundreds of thousands of tea bushes stretch throughout this tea farm as far as the eye can see. Take a free Factory Tour to see how tea is made, or hop on our Trolley Tour for a fun and educational ride through the fields, with a stop at our greenhouse to see young tea plants up close.
Loading image: An image of a little girl ith Waddy the frog at a tea plantation in Charleston.
Waddy the Frog
Waddy the Frog, a larger-than-life metal amphibian holding a mug of tea, has been a beloved fixture at the Charleston Tea Garden since February 2013. His name, "Waddy," is a nod to his home on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina. Crafted by sculptor Charles "Frog" Smith from nearby Johns Island, Waddy was custom-made to embody the spirit of the garden.
Seated on a front porch bench with a Charleston Tea Garden mug in hand, Waddy serves as the garden’s “frog in residence,” greeting visitors year-round. In between welcoming guests and posing for countless selfies, Waddy enjoys his own cup of Charleston Tea Garden Tea. Over the years, he has become a popular photo opportunity, charming visitors of all ages, like the young guest dubbed "adorable" in one memorable snapshot.
