8 Reasons to Try Full Southern Tea at Hopsewee Plantation
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The Hopsewee Plantation outside of McClellanville, South Carolina was built circa 1740.
When I was growing up, tea was (and still is) a mainstay in our home. My mother would put the kettle on, sigh with a smile, and say, "Is anything so civilized as a cup of tea?" Some of my best childhood (and adult) memories involve snuggling up with loved ones over a steaming mug of Earl Grey with milk and sugar.
So, when I discovered that Hopsewee Plantation offers a full Southern tea experience while exploring McClellanville, I felt duty-called to check it out.
Here's what you need to know:
Hopsewee Plantation serves a Full Southern Tea in their River Oak Cottage Tea Room to the right of the historic plantation home. The River Oak Cottage Tea Room is open Tuesday - Saturday from 11 AM - 3:00 PM, and reservations are highly encouraged. Expect to spend about an hour and fifteen minutes savoring your tea experience, and you may want to allow additional time to wander the scenic grounds and take a house tour or Gullah tour.
The grounds at Hopsewee Plantation are absolutely stunning.
About Hopsewee Plantation:
Built circa 1740, Hopsewee Plantation rests along the banks of the North Santee River between Georgetown, South Carolina and McClellanville, South Carolina. The once sprawling plantation pre-dates the American Revolutionary War by about 40 years, and it was the birthplace for Thomas Lynch, Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Hopsewee Plantation's primary crop was rice, and 178 enslaved people lived and worked the land. Several of the enslaved people's dwellings remain to this day, offering a harrowing insight into the crowded conditions they endured. I highly recommend the Gullah tour to pay tribute to the enslaved residents of Hopsewee and learn about their enduring legacy.
The mansion is described as a "preservation" rather than a "recreation," and it remains privately owned. To quote Steven Roberts of The Washington Post, "With walls of black cypress and floors of heart pine, this stately house on the banks of the North Santee River is the real thing."
Full Southern Tea at Hopsewee Plantation is a must if you’re visiting McClellanville or Georgetown, South Carolina.
8 Reasons to Try Full Southern Tea at Hopsewee Plantation
The tea menu at the River Oaks Cottage Tea Room is incredible.
The extensive tea selection is incredible.
They really take tea to an art form at Hopsewee. The tea selection was two full pages, and every one sounded delicious. Choosing which to try is the most challenging part of your Hopsewee Full Southern Tea experience. I highly recommend going with a friend so you can sample their selections as well! I got Corsican Pear Spice, Creme de Caramel, and a lovely Chai tea, but Elise’s Strawberry Tingle was equally delightful.
You’ll receive three different individual pots of tea during your Full Southern Tea at Hopsewee Plantation.
You get three different pots of tea.
If the giant tea menu mentioned above gave you major anxiety, rest easy: you get to try three different teas during your meal. You could either think of it as a tea pairing for the snacks, or just go wild (like I did). The individual pots each contain several cups of tea, so it's easy to share a bit with your companion so you can try even more flavors from the menu.
The Full Southern Tea at Hopsewee Plantation comes with a delightful assortment of canapés.
The canapés and snacks are delicious.
Not only have I never missed a meal in my entire life, but I'm a tiny sandwich fanatic... perhaps you could even say that I'm a tiny sandwich snob. I have high standards for dainty little bites, and the kitchen at the River Oaks Cottage Tea Room nailed it. Each perfectly balanced bite offered delicious and sometimes surprising flavors. Bonus: Despite the delicate presentation, you definitely won't walk away hungry.
Your Full Southern Tea comes with a fresh, warm, made-to-order scone.
It comes with the freshly baked scone of your choice.
I want to shout this one from the rooftops: freshly baked scones are what makes life worth living. None of that rock-hard, crumbly nonsense from Starbucks. The scones at Hopsewee are made-to-order. Your server will take your choice of three distinct flavors when you sit down, and then they'll bring you a warm, fluffy, freshly baked scone with housemade clotted cream and lemon curd for your second course. I did the cranberry orange, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was fresh-from-the-oven, fluffy, orange-zest dusted goodness.
It's delightfully affordable.
Including gratuity, this delightful tea-and-snack afternoon cost less than $30 per person. (For a reference point, the Crown Tea at Hotel Bennet does not include a made-to-order scone, and it costs $65 per person.)
Enjoy sipping your tea from delicate fine china.
You’ll drink tea out of delicate fine china.
You’re never going to want to go back to a to-go cup from Starbucks again after your Full Southern Tea at Hopsewee Plantation. The dainty, gold-rimmed tea cups and matching saucers make you feel like royalty - or at least like you’ve stepped outside your daily hustle and bustle for a truly elegant and mindful tea service.
The servers at the River Oaks Cottage Tea Room dress in period-appropriate attire.
Your server will be rocking full 1740s attire.
Ok, I'm not going to lie, I was stunned to realize our server was rocking a bonnet. All the serving staff at the River Oaks Cottage Tea Room sports replica 1740s attire; frankly, it adds so much *oomph* to your experience. You really feel like you're stepping back in time.
The mansion at Hopsewee Plantation is considered a preservation rather than a recreation, making it an especially unique architectural site.
The Hopsewee grounds are stunning.
Last but simply not least, Hopsewee Plantation is such an elegant and timeless place to enjoy an afternoon of tea and conversation. The Spanish moss sways gently from the ancient live oak trees that pepper the property, and the roar of the cicadas is almost deafening at times. Stroll along the riverwalk or sit and watch the world go by; the grounds at Hopsewee are unforgettable.
Support South Carolina-Made Products:
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits Buttermilk Biscuits and Pimento Cheese
Rodney Scott’s BBQ Cookbook
Have you tried the Full Southern Tea at Hopsewee Plantation in McClellanville, South Carolina? Drop your favorite tea or favorite memory in the comments below!
