A Piece of Tea History at The Great Mississippi Tea Company

Every tea plant has a story, and at The Great Mississippi Tea Company, we love sharing the stories that connect our farm to the larger history of tea. One of our most fascinating plants is on display right at the front of the farm.

This particular tea plant came to us as a donation from a kind tea lover in Hattiesburg. But its roots go even deeper into history. The plant is believed to have originated from Lipton Tea’s experiments here in the United States during the 1950s. At that time, international relations were tense, and Lipton worried about disruptions in tea imports. Their solution? Test whether tea could be grown closer to home.

Although that research station eventually closed, some of those tea plants survived, scattered across Mississippi. Thanks to this thoughtful donation, one of those living pieces of history has found a permanent home here on our farm—right where it belongs.

There’s something wonderfully full-circle about it. Decades later, with container ships delayed and global supply chains still uncertain, the idea of producing tea locally feels as valuable as ever for American tea drinkers.

Our farm is full of stories like this—unexpected connections, historical ties, and a sense of place rooted in every leaf. If you’d like to hear more (and taste the results), we invite you to join us for a farm tour. Jason and Timmy are full of stories, and they tell them even better in person.

👉 Book your tea farm experience today!