FoodBanter.com - Just back from Charleston, SC

Here you go:
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Lush subtropical climate of the Charleston lowlands. If it was any
lower it would be underwater. The plantation itself is on unspoiled
Wadmalaw Island which is defined by tributaries:
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Everything starts with the gift shop:
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There is a self guided video tour around the factory floor via
elevated enclosed glass hallway:
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Here are the steps to tea processing. You see the signs on the back
of each machine. The CharlestonTeaPlantation website gives you better
shots of each processing step. This is a brand new factory floor
installed by Bigelow. May 3 is the first day of operation processing
the first flush. I missed it by one day:
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Notes on the factory floor: Sorting is the last step after drying.
You see the oxidation belt leading to the dryer. Im not sure but you
see tea leaf bags ready for a test run.

Tea Trolley plantation tour:
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This is the combination cotton/tobacco picker used to harvest the
tea. It skims the table top for new growth. They call it the 'green
giant'. It was specifically designed for this plantation. Note the
field rows accommodate the wheels.
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One of three irrigations ponds and field plumbing. I did not show the
drainage furrows between the various fields. This area gets 75 days
of rain per year. The soil itself is sandy mixture which allows for
drainage:
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The table top upclose. You probably cant see it but there are two
leaves and that hairy pre leaf protuberance called a BUD. I sampled
some bud and leaf. Kind of what you expect for a Camellia. Bitter.
It would give you a stomach ache fast:
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Tea production is an agricultural process. One of the harvest fields
defined by tree groves. The total plantation is 167 acres. No
pesticides or herbicides are used. The bush is naturally resistant to
animals like deer:
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New fields. These are not ready to harvest. These bushes are 3 years
old. 5 years is maturity to harvest. Once a bush goes into harvest
it produces 'forver'. All the bushes are clones from 1987. I did not
show the propagation house nursery:
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Room for expansion:
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Souvenirs. Ive been drinking the new Island green. The trick is use
more than you would think. It has a subtle flavor. Maybe a week
later I could have got their first flush for this year.
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The trolley driver said he always gets the Chinese question about
whole leaf processing. I think you could replace the Rotovane with a
Kneader for more whole leaf appearance. They allow the bushes to
flower right before they go dormant in October.

Jim

On May 3, 6:40 am, Space Cowboy > wrote:
> I ended up in Charleston on personal business. I woke up the second
> night with a start remembering that there should be oneplace in
> particular I would want to visit. Im getting together the pictures in
> the next day or so.
>
> Jim