Summervillians And Visitors Filled The Town's Streets To Capacity And Enjoyed The Sweetness

On May 26, 2014, The Azalea Magazine published an article in which it documented the history of the tea plant in America and the South's affinity to sweet tea. It concluded with this momentous statement, "So I'm going to do it. In regards to Summerville's role in the great Southern drink of tea, ice, and sugar, I'm going to step out on a pretty thick limb and say it. Come on and say it with me, Summerville is the birthplace of sweet tea. My appeal to all Summervillians; take pride, take ownership. I feel the need to say it again…Summerville is the birthplace of sweet tea." Well, that limb was the size of Angel Oak's bottom branch and Summervillians have determinedly responded to the appeal.

Since taking ownership of this historic mandate, the town of Summerville has guzzled in the sweetness. The Sweet Tea Trail was established to help visitors and locals alike explore all that Summerville has to offer. Also, the Sweet Tea Festival was inaugurated and is celebrated every September. And quite fittingly, as of June 10, 2015, on National Iced Tea Day, the Birthplace of Sweet Tea smashed the Guinness Book of World Record for the World's Largest Glass of Sweet Tea.

A ten foot container manufactured by Scout Boats and painted for authenticity, the largest glass of sweet tea was positioned in front of Town Hall at the head of the Square. The process for the 1,400 gallons of sweet tea began at 7:00am. At which time, 116 pounds of tea leaves from the Charleston Tea Plantation was brewed. At 11:30am, the concentrate was combined with 2,100 pounds of local sugar from Dixie Crystals and 3,000 pounds of ice was added. The official record ceremony with the Guinness Book of World Records took place mid-afternoon with Bill Collins and the Guinness Book of World Records' representative. Shortly thereafter, the party began, and what a party it was.

The largest crowd I have ever seen in Summerville, outside of the Flowertown Festival, ascended on the town and filled the downtown streets. All of Summerville's sweet tea lovers, desiring to stake their claim in a piece of the action and history, stood in a line that continuously stretched from Town Hall to Central Avenue for several hours. Along with the sweet tea, music lovers danced to great music by Midnight City and others filled the shops and restaurants.

It was amazing and it was historic. It was a testimony to Summerville's affirmation to the appeal made by the Azalea Magazine in 2014 and a demonstration of the Town's community pride. Congratulations and the pictures tell the whole smashing story.


If you want to read the full article from the Azalea Magazine, click on "Birthplace of Sweet Tea."

It Was A Sweet-ride And Tea-rific Fun-Summerville's "Good Eats On The Sweet Tea Trail Tour"

Tina Zimmerman and Fay Bell

All roads lead to Summerville--to be more exact the Summerville Visitors Center, if you have a reserved ticket for the Lowcountry Loop Trolley's "Sweet Tea Trail Tours." Two tours are offered for your consideration.

The first is a 1 1/2 hour tour of historic Summerville, the "Birthplace of Sweet Tea." The wonderfully preserved downtown district around beautiful Hutchinson Square and the historic homes of "Old Summerville" are featured on this tour with a stop at Linwood Gardens--an award winning bed and breakfast built in 1883 by Julia Drayton Hastie, heiress to the famous Magnolia Plantation on the Ashley.

The second is the "Good Eats on the Sweet Tea Trail Tour" with Summerville resident and nationally-known storyteller Tim Lowry. You will be treated to complimentary tastes of delicacies from a number of Summerville’s restaurants and gourmet shops on this tour. As the trolley travels from one establishment to the next, Tim entertains you with the tall tales and factual stories of Summerville and its related history. This was the tour I selected.

The Summerville Visitors Center is a beautifully landscaped brick building on the west side of North Main Street next to Berlin G. Meyers Lumber Corporation(Berlin G. Meyers was mayor of Summerville for many years, something I learned on the tour). Stepping in through the doors, you are treated to colorful pictures of area landmarks with a full wall dedicated to offering a host of pamphlets, brochures and magazines containing information on things to do, area landmarks, and points of interest.

Immediately upon arrival, you are graciously greeted by Summerville's tourism coordinator Tina Zimmerman. Once everyone had arrived, the group assembled in a room lined with images of Summerville's past taken from the book Porch Rocker Recollections. Tina began the tour with an inspirational video introducing everyone to a short summation starting with Summerville's inception and concluding with Bill Collins, Summerville's present mayor, wishing all a grand visit.

With introductions completed and schedule of establishments and description of delicacies to be anticipated in hand, the group left the center and stepped onto the trolley chomping on mustache cookies served by Brad Mallett of Coastal Coffee Roasters. From that point in time, you are taken on a trip down Summerville's memory lanes immersed in the fanciful, storytelling world of Tim Lowry. We were joined by Janyce Shoemake Hursey of Summerville DREAM and Barbara Hill, Linwood Gardens tour guide. I camped out all the way in the back of the trolley where I took over the whole seat with a good view of the proceedings.

From first stop to the last, the whole affair was an eclectic smorgasbord of healthy delights, delectable appetizers, and homegrown drinks hospitably served on board the trolley by each establishment(For the complete itinerary of stops for the day check out the downloaded image). In between stops, Tim entertained the predominantly senior group with informational stories of Summerville, Queen Elizabeth, and a Gullah tale all laced with his own personal brand of humor. It was a sweet-ride and tea-rific fun.

So, if you are looking for a fun, relaxing, and informative tour of Summerville, I encourage to schedule a date with the Lowcountry Loop Trolley via the Summerville Visitors Center at 402 N. Main Street. I thank Tina Zimmerman for the invitation and look forward to taking the "Sweet Tea Trolley Tour of Historic Summerville and Linwood Gardens." Oh, don't forget to savor a cup of some famous Summerville sweet tea offered next to the reception desk.