River Oak Cottage Tea Room at Hopsewee Plantation
494 Hopsewee Road • Georgetown, SC 29440
843-546-7891 • hopsewee.com
It doesn’t get more historic than indulging in teatime on a storied property built circa 1740 (40 years before the Revolutionary War). Hopsewee, one of the South’s former major rice plantations located in Georgetown, South Carolina—midway between Myrtle Beach and Charleston—is also the birthplace of Thomas Lynch Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. A stately white house with black shutters is positioned tall and proud on the estate, standing the test of time with countless stories held within its walls. Since 2001, this historic landmark, with 56 acres under conservation, has been privately owned by Raejean Beattie and her husband.
The Beatties acquired the picturesque real estate as a “gift from God.” They had intentions of continuing the public tours of the grounds but never imagined that tea would be enjoyed at this locale. “In August of 2008, the Red Hat ladies came and asked if I could serve tea,” Raejean states. “So, I bought some china, tea, and linens and set up tea for eight people. I spent way more on the little project than they paid me. The same day they came, we joined a Myrtle Beach marketing co-op. I thought I could serve them tea, too, and I didn’t know that one of them was British.” Luckily, the property already had a caterer’s kitchen and only a dining room addition was needed. Once the new dining area was finished, and with the aid of Raejean’s chef-trained daughter, Hopsewee was ready to welcome customers for tea.
For more than 15 years, the River Oak Cottage Tea Room, housed in a quaint wooden building nestled among the verdant scenery of the sprawling acreage, has served numerous guests who wished to partake in a leisurely meal after an enjoyable house tour—whether that be afternoon tea or a Lowcountry lunch. A luxurious, three-course tea service, deemed a “Southern Tea,” is available for $35 per person for adults and $25 per person for children. For the first course, yummy savories—including cucumber sandwiches with a cream cheese and dill filling, curried chicken salad served on homemade gingersnaps, a blue cheese and spinach quiche, and salmon mousse on crackers—commence the tradition on a pleasant note. Next, scones of the plain, cinnamon-raisin, cranberry-orange, and chocolate chip varieties bring extra deliciousness to the table, especially when accompanied by scratch-made lemon curd and “mock clotted cream,” made with cream cheese, sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Lastly, the sweets, arguably the most beloved course of them all, typically consists of a light and airy flourless chocolate cake, decadent white chocolate cheesecake, and sumptuous lemon chess pie.
The refreshing teas paired with the aforementioned fare hail from the Metropolitan Tea Company. “We had a gentleman and his wife come in from Ohio,” Raejean mentions. “They said we should have our own house blend tea. He had 22 acres of mint in production. I sent him some of my favorite teas [Lady Londonberry and an Earl Grey Cream Tea] to see if he could come up with something.” From this collaboration, the bespoke house blend tea, “Hopsewee Tea,” was born. It’s a satisfying and soothing black tea with malty floral flavor and hints of strawberry and lemon. While all of the tearoom’s brews—almost 30 different teas to choose from—can be served either hot or iced, most guests prefer the beverage on ice. Perhaps, that is because of Southern culture, or maybe, it is due to the fact that many people stop by this destination en route to the beach.
Over the years, many bus tours, church groups, and bridal luncheons have appreciated the pleasure of wandering the vast land and dining at the charismatic tearoom. Half of the charm of the premises lies in the knowledge that the property will never be developed, and the house—built between 1935 and 1940—has never been renovated. “People spend the day with us here,” Raejean notes. “There are three hours to do the tours and dine with us. We are conveniently located on Highway 17. It’s a beautiful place with live oaks, camellias, and azaleas . . . a very peaceful place.”
Hopsewee Plantation is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The tea service is available by reservation starting at 11:00 a.m.
Really enjoyed learning about the Charleston Tea Garden’s unique place in American tea history. The blend of tradition, innovation, and Southern charm makes it a must-visit!