Where Does American Tea Come From?
By justabloke
@justabloke (526)
United States
January 3, 2008 8:31pm CST
Anyone know where American sold tea comes from. I know that most of the English tea comes from India. I did try to find out last time I was at the grocery store by looking at the boxes of Lipton tea. The tea didn't say where it came from.
Also can anyone recommend a good American brand of tea for drinking hot. Currently, I drink English or British imported tea that I can pick up at a reduced rate from the TJ Max stores near me, but, it is still expensive compared to the teas sold here.
4 responses
@justabloke (526)
• United States
11 Jan 08
I have a tea stainer, but, I don't like using it for a single cup. If I make a pot of tea, then I use it. I am thinking of getting another diffuser, that was certainly the best.
I write this as I am enjoying a nice cup of Earl Gray. I don't drink it the traditional way, with just a slice of lemon. I just add milk.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I just saw about this place on Food Networks Unwrapped show - where they tell you the history and all about all kinds of foods. There is only one functioning tea plantation in the US. It is in NOrth Carolina and supplies Lipton, I believe it was.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Well, it is rather huge and the only one in USA, but I guess it could be South Carolina. One of them anyway! It sure was beautiful on the show. Quite amazing too!
1 person likes this
@justabloke (526)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I did a little digging and it seems that the only commercial tea plantation on the mainland US is in Charleston, South Carolina. It seems that they supply the "Official Tea of the White House", American Classic Tea. They also produce Sams Choice Instant Tea, which I assume is sold in Sams Club or Walmart.
I haven't seen either of these teas, so, my quest will be to try and find some.
There seems to be some past connection with Lipton and North Carolina, but, I was surprised to see that Lipton's is/was a British Company whose main brand in the UK is PG Tips!!
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
6 Jan 08
Being British, I know that Liptons is a British company :-) I think that they have a very large market outside of the UK because wherever I travel in Europe or in the USA I see the Lipton brand.
1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
6 Jan 08
I was going to add this link, but forgot. http://www.liptont.com/index.asp
BTW, I never knew that tea was grown in the USA - I learn something new all the time :-)
1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
6 Jan 08
Certainly! :-) all those tea drinking Brits out in India can't have been wrong :-)
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@justabloke (526)
• United States
6 Jan 08
Us Brits and our tea. I noticed a report that came out this week noting that hot tea wasn't dehrydrating at all and is actually refreshing. Of course us drinking brits always knew that, but, apparently the experts for years have disagreed.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
3 Feb 08
Actually, much tea drunk here in UK comes from Kenya, in fact what makes British tea so special is the blend of leaves from India, Kenya, Ceylon, etc.
Another interesting fact about tea importing is that at one time the 'John' company of tea importers were given authority by the British crown to mint its own money, declare war and make peace! Such was the value placed on tea
all the best urban
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
3 Feb 08
No, as I said it was the John company
all the best urban
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@justabloke (526)
• United States
3 Feb 08
I thought the East India company was known as the "John company", but, I could be wrong.
@justabloke (526)
• United States
3 Feb 08
Interesting information. Who was the company? The East India Company?
