Fairhope Tea Plantation

On the southern tip of Alabama on the east side of Mobile Bay through the rural houses and down a bit of rough road is a quaint tea plantation and its owners. Back in February of 2023, we (my husband and I) were able to participate in one of Donnie’s tours. He is a powerhouse full of tea knowledge. His plucking style is like no other. Sadly they do not sell tea online but if you are ever in southern Alabama I highly suggest you contact Donnie and schedule a tour!

Website: https://fairhopeteaplantation.com/

Location(s) Headquarters: 12424 Lyter Ln. Fairhope,  AL 36532

Company Focus:

• American-grown tea. Harvested and produced by a man and his family

Most popular company tea(s)?

• Black & Green Mix (According to Donnie when he poured us a cup)

Does the company name have a meaning?

• “Donnie and his wife Lottie moved to the South Fairhope farm in 1990 where he had hundreds of young plants ready to be planted in rows.  The tea farm was first called Hurricane Blend, then Lytermanor Tea Farm. When a business in New Hampshire who was buying his first bulk tea for frozen tea sickles because they thought it was “light,” they changed the name again. The name Fairhope Tea Company worked for awhile until a Yankee tourist said “I’ll bet you have a plantation,” so they changed it to Fairhope Tea Plantation in 1996.”

Do you participate in any charities?  

• Not sure.

What is your and/or your co-workers’ favorite tea?  

• When he makes it right he loves his yellow tea.

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry?

• “The art of making tea is known as “tea craft,” as it takes lots of knowledge and experience to make tea.   When people learn of a tea farm in Fairhope they readily assume that you just pick and dry the leaves.  If you do just that, it makes a dirty water that is flat, has no character and tastes a little like tea.  The process begins the second the leaves are plucked, and a series of steps have to be followed to produce the product desired.  Just subtle differences in temperature, moisture content, age of the tea growth and timing all have a profound effect on the finished tea.”

What role does tea play in our lives?

• To Donnie, tea is a science-packed, no-nonsense way of life. He grows the tea, he harvests the tea, he produces the tea, and then he sells and drinks his tea.

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TeaTiff Picks: Green/Black/Yellow Blend. Before the tour, Donnie sat us down with a cup of tea. This was a unique blend of the above. Very tasty. Thank you, Donnie, again, for your hospitality and for jump-starting our rental.