Charleston Tea Garden
5 verified products
Browse on Amazon →Last verified: April 2026
Read our full verification: Is Charleston Tea Garden Made in USA?Verification Summary
American Score
Manufacturing Location
Wadmalaw Island, SC
Headquarters
Wadmalaw Island, SC
Founded
1799
Products Verified
5 products
Evidence Breakdown
Factory Location Specificity
Specific factory city identified
Website Claim
Brand website explicitly claims Made in USA
Manufacturing History
20+ years of USA manufacturing
Known Overseas Production
No known overseas production
Verification Notes
Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina is the only commercial tea garden in North America. Tea plants have grown on the plantation since 1799. The garden grows, harvests, and processes 100% American-grown tea on site. Now owned by Bigelow Tea. Completely domestic from plant to cup.
Last verified: April 2026
Charleston Tea Garden has been manufacturing products in Wadmalaw Island, SC since 1799. We carry 5 verified American-made Charleston Tea Garden products.
Heritage & History
Tea plants were first introduced to Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina in 1799, when French botanist André Michaux brought Camellia sinensis cuttings from China. The hot, humid South Carolina coastal climate proved well-suited to tea cultivation, and various attempts at commercial American tea production continued on the island through the 19th and 20th centuries. The Charleston Tea Garden as a commercial operation was established in the 1960s and eventually grew into the largest tea garden in North America.
Bigelow Tea Company acquired the Charleston Tea Garden in 2003 and invested in expanding both the plantation and the processing facility. Today the garden grows approximately 320 acres of tea and includes a visitor center, factory tours, and a trolley that takes visitors through the rows of tea plants — the same rows that produce the tea sold under the American Classic and Charleston Tea Garden labels.
Grown on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina
Wadmalaw Island's climate — a combination of warm temperatures, high humidity, abundant rainfall, and mild winters — creates growing conditions that support tea cultivation without the tropical heat required by Asian plantations. The tea plants on the island are harvested from late spring through fall, with mechanical harvesting equipment designed specifically for the plantation.
All tea sold under the Charleston Tea Garden label is 100% grown and processed at the Wadmalaw Island facility. The garden operates its own processing plant where harvested leaves are withered, rolled, oxidized (for black tea), and dried on site. This fully domestic from-plant-to-cup supply chain is unique in American commerce — no other commercially produced tea in the country can make this claim.
What Sets Them Apart
The uniqueness of Charleston Tea Garden's position — the only commercial tea farm in North America — makes the domestic authenticity of its products a fact rather than a marketing category. Every other tea brand in America sources leaves from overseas, primarily from Asia. Charleston Tea Garden is the single exception, and the South Carolina-grown character of the tea is verifiable by visiting the farm.
For buyers who prioritize domestic sourcing, Charleston Tea Garden is the only genuinely American tea available. The flavor profile reflects the South Carolina growing environment — the black teas tend to be smooth and approachable rather than astringent, a characteristic of the island's soil and climate. The garden also produces green tea and flavored varieties, all from Wadmalaw Island plants.
Quick Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston Tea Garden made in the USA?
Yes. Charleston Tea Garden manufactures 5 verified products in Wadmalaw Island, SC. Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina is the only commercial tea plantation in North America, growing and processing 100% American-grown tea since 1799.
Where is Charleston Tea Garden manufactured?
Charleston Tea Garden is headquartered in Wadmalaw Island, SC. Manufacturing takes place in Wadmalaw Island, SC.
What Charleston Tea Garden products can I buy?
We carry 5 verified Charleston Tea Garden products across Food & Beverages. Every listing links directly to Amazon with verified American manufacturing.
When was Charleston Tea Garden founded?
Charleston Tea Garden was founded in 1799. Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina is the only commercial tea plantation in North America, growing and processing 100% American-grown tea since 1799.
Does Charleston Tea Garden ship from Amazon?
Yes, all Charleston Tea Garden products listed here are available on Amazon with free shipping for Prime members.