I had foolishly thought that North Carolina being so close to South Carolina (where there is still one tea plantation) would have good tea. I was sadly mistaken. Thankfully I had packed ahead in case of such an emergency (click here). But I still wanted to check out the local eateries and shops to see if there was anything new and or different to pick up. Sadly this was not the case.
Mind you sweet tea was flowing like water. But to me sweet tea is a whole lot of suger added to a little bit of water. Just my opinion folks…don’t get in a snit fit. Most eateries in the Outer Banks had Lipton tea…really? Which I drank only twice while on vacation because I had forgotten to bring my trusty tea kit! Another local bookshop boasted 40+ types of coffee and six, that’s right SIX types of tea…Mighty Leaf which I could get at home…boring. How hard would it have been for them to head on down to Charleston, SC to get me some real tea? Next year I will be sure to notify them of my arrival!
But the one good thing to come out of this trip is that I now know where a great market is for a loose leaf tea shop to open…ANYWHERE on the Outer Banks! Yes I’m making my retirement plans now! My husband can go work at the Nag’s Head Hammock shop and I can run a tea shop! I think it might be one of my best ideas yet!
Someone get me a kettle and a cup stat! (Charleston, SC tea plantation)
So you are subsisting on Persian Princess and Finbarr’s Revenge? That’s the joy of planning ahead. I have a little tine of tea that goes into my jacket pocket every time I leave the house, just in case.
It would be lovely if you opened up a tea shop, just make it a little further north please
@thedevotea – Not using your tea as smelling salts I hope, just in case you pass out? Although, coming to think of it, I see a great ad campaign along the lines of “The Devotea’s tea, a true life saver!”
Plans for retirement? They sound interesting.
I’ve had similar experiences a lot of places I’ve gone on vacation. It’s even surprising to me how some of the most high-end establishments only serve Lipton tea. And it’s puzzling, Lipton even makes higher quality teas, in whole leaf sachets, but I never see them, just the humble plain black tea bags. I’ve seen Lipton tea set out on the plate in fancy hotels, alongside gourmet shade grown coffee. It’s a business opportunity! All these restuarants and hotels and other places could be serving more interesting tea!