. Why don't we ever hear about anybody growing a Tea Plant in the US?

Question

We grow every kind of eatable and drinkable plant. Just think of all the money we'd save!

Answer 1

Camellia sinensis Tea Plant is grown in the southeast as an ornamental. there are some on the UGA campus. commercial tea plantations are viable on the southeast coastal areas, one of which still operates. Dirr says, "Tea is one of the great unsung treasures of the Camellia world for use in Zone 6 to 9 gardens. It is distinguishably hardier than ...other C. species and makes a fine 4 to 6' (10') high and wide evergreen shrub especially adapted to shady environments. The plant is not particular about soil or exposure and will perform quite well in full sun. Good plant for massing and grouping in semi-shade to rather heavy shade. It also displays high heat and drought tolerance and could prove a valuable plant for southeast conditions. Appears amazingly drought tolerant once established. Considerably more cold hardy than given credit in the everyday literature.

Answer 2

Well, first off...most things in America are being manufactured, grown, and produced in China much cheaper than here in the US,

So, it appears that the profitablity of growing tea here (US) is not worth the effort.

I would imagine that any tea "farms" would probably be "outsourced" to China even if they did commonly exist here.

Additionally, soil types related to certain areas grow certain products better.
EX. it is known that the southern US has the best soil for growing tobbaco, and the dry sandy soil in Afgahnistan is great for growing the poppie. So, it has probably been tried and found to be of lesser quality than what's prodcued in China.

Answer 3

Thought there was in Ark.? There are a lot of herbal places like in Co They grow tea for us. Natures Sunshine (Utah) is one.
Am Ginsing tea is very papular around the world-third in line as a matter of fact.Where do they get that Am. tea?
Celestial Seasonings Boulder Co.wwwcelestialseasonings.com.

Answer 4

WE SURE DO! I knew I remembered there was one, and here's a link to it.

http://www.teamuse.com/article_011201.html

Brewing Up American Pride: Charleston Tea
When the Charleston Tea Plantation opened its Wadmalaw Island fields in 1987, it was a culmination of nearly a century-and-a-half of efforts to produce and market tea grown in the United States.

You'll have to go read the rest at their website. :-D

Answer 5

We are too busy trying to figure out how to hide our more important plants! Can you imagine all we would save if people didn't have to sneak it in from other country's.