Before the Boston Tea Party made headlines in the 18th century, Charleston, err, Charles Towne, had its own tea parties, where disgruntled citizens locked away and later, dumped tea into the Cooper River in 1773 and 1774, respectively. And while fighting taxation without representation is certainly a noble cause, Charleston’s connection to tea goes beyond political acts and steeps, if you will, into the history of a treasured pastime: afternoon tea service
Boutique hotel, The Loutrel, situated firmly in Charleston’s historic French Quarter, now offers a weekend, rooftop tea service. The Loutrel opened to much fanfare in late 2021, when Vogue claimed that the 50-room hotel “epitomizes Southern hospitality.”
And while the hotel offers food and drinks at its lobby bar and restaurant, The Veranda Lounge, its rooftop area was being underutilized, said General Manager Karl von Ramm. “We wanted to activate the space,” said von Ramm, who added that tapping into Charleston’s tea-soaked history was an added bonus.
The Loutrel uses Charleston-based Oliver Pluff & Co. teas for its tea service. The local brand prides itself on staying true to history; the company’s bio reads: “Oliver Pluff & Company asked the question, ‘What teas were thrown in the harbor during the Boston Tea Party?’ … We recreated those blends and hope to share a cup of history with you!”
During The Loutrel’s tea service, guests can choose from eight Oliver Pluff teas, including the East Indian, a black tea that is reminiscent of the tea dumped in the Cooper River in 1774.
Sip and stay a while
In addition to tea, The Loutrel’s new rooftop offering includes a scone course and tea tower composed of sweet and savory bites. Seasonal scones are served with Edisto Gold honey, clotted cream, seasonal preserves and lemon curd. A recent visit featured several tea sandwich varieties, including chicken salad, bacon and sweet cream cheese and smoked salmon with pickled onions, and cream cheese.
The sweets come from Christope Artisan Chocolatier (a recent Best of Charleston winner) and Simply Your Desserts, along with a seasonal cake bite from the hotel’s in-house chef.
Guests have the option of adding a cocktail or glass of champagne to their service. The cocktails stay true to theme, with tea-inspired sips like the Illuminate Within, made with Sweet Grass vodka, jasmine green tea syrup, lime and soda water.
Each tablescape is crafted with ceramic figurines, old books and vintage dish towers, all carefully sourced by von Ramm himself from vintage stores and local purveyors. Each cold beverage is served in Estelle Colored Glass, an uber popular local, hand-blown glass company. Fresh flowers adorn each table and guests are given hand fans on particularly hot days.
The entire experience is an opportunity to slow down for a couple of hours, a tradition that should never go out of style.
The Loutrel’s Tea Service is available during three time slots, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursdays through Sunday. Tickets are $85/pp and reservations must be made one week in advance. Book online at theloutrel.com under the ‘experiences’ tab.
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