In short: Fairhope Tea Plantation is a tea grower in Alabama, United States, according to Fairhope Tea Plantation: plantation history, Fairhope Tea Plantation: growing tea and Scenic 98 Coastal: Fairhope Tea Plantation.
Fairhope Tea Plantation grows tea in Alabama, United States at about 41 m above sea level. The details on this page come from the grower's own published information and public sources (Fairhope Tea Plantation: plantation history, Fairhope Tea Plantation: growing tea and Scenic 98 Coastal: Fairhope Tea Plantation); the map pin marks the locality (outside Fairhope, near Gulf Shores) rather than the estate itself.
What the Published Sources Say
- Fairhope Tea Plantation says it began in September 1979, when Donnie Barrett rescued three tea plants from burn piles of Lipton experiment plots at the Auburn research center in Fairhope.
- Fairhope Tea Plantation says the Barretts moved to the South Fairhope farm in 1990 and that the name Fairhope Tea Plantation dates from 1996.
- Fairhope Tea Plantation says a rough count in 2015 put the farm at or near 61,000 plants, in fifty-foot rows of 1,000 plants.
- Fairhope Tea Plantation says four-foot bushes are plucked for oolong and black teas, while low-cut rows are used for green tea.
- Scenic 98 Coastal says Donnie Barrett calls it the oldest U.S. tea farm by eight years.
- Fairhope Tea Plantation says it sells green and black tea at the farm, with tours by appointment.
Sources: Fairhope Tea Plantation: plantation history, Fairhope Tea Plantation: growing tea, Scenic 98 Coastal: Fairhope Tea Plantation. TeaTrade has not tested or tasted this grower's tea; these are the grower's and publishers' own statements.
Terroir & Climate
Tea is a niche crop in the United States, grown by a small number of farms in the warm, humid south-east, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes region and Hawaii. Mainland growers generally depend on sheltered sites, mild winters or protected cultivation, and plucking seasons tend to be shorter than in tropical origins.
The live forecast below tracks the current weather at the area's coordinates.
Tea Produced
Fairhope Tea Plantation is described as making green, black and oolong tea.
Operator
The business behind the estate is given as Donnie and Lottie Barrett.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Fairhope Tea Plantation is in Alabama, United States; the map pin (30.52, -87.90) is approximate and marks the locality. Its 41 m elevation is the 13th highest of 16 estates we map in the United States. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from this approximate pin, are:
- Fleur De Lis Tea Company — 251 km away · Louisiana
- The Great Mississippi Tea Company — 269 km away · Mississippi
- Table Rock Tea Company — 686 km away · South Carolina
- Charleston Tea Garden — 769 km away · South Carolina
- Light of Day Organics — 1594 km away · Michigan
Fairhope Tea Plantation Compared with the United States
In the United States, Fairhope Tea Plantation is wetter than 87% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 80% of the others by elevation; warmer than 60% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Fairhope Tea Plantation against the 15 other estates we map in the United States, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Fairhope Tea Plantation | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 41 m | 291 m | 12 to 1,134 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,293 mm | 1,182 mm | 426 to 1,436 mm |
| Mean daily high | 24.7 °C | 24.1 °C | 12.7 to 26.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.4 °C | 14.6 °C | 3.7 to 20.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Fairhope Tea Plantation (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Fairhope Tea Plantation’s coordinates recorded 1,293 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (176 mm) and the driest was November (9 mm). Daytime highs averaged 24.7 °C and overnight lows 16.4 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,293 mm |
| Wettest month | May (176 mm) |
| Driest month | November (9 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 24.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Fairhope Tea Plantation located?
Fairhope Tea Plantation is in Alabama, United States. The map pin (30.52, -87.90) is approximate and marks the locality rather than the estate, at an elevation of about 41 metres.
Who operates Fairhope Tea Plantation?
Fairhope Tea Plantation is operated by Donnie and Lottie Barrett, according to the grower's published information.
What type of tea does Fairhope Tea Plantation produce?
Fairhope Tea Plantation is recorded as producing green, black and oolong tea.
How much rain does Fairhope Tea Plantation receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,293 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (176 mm).
Data sources: the grower’s own published information and public sources (Fairhope Tea Plantation: plantation history, Fairhope Tea Plantation: growing tea, Scenic 98 Coastal: Fairhope Tea Plantation); climate figures are ERA5 reanalysis modelled for the area’s coordinates via Open-Meteo (calendar year 2025); the map pin is rounded to about 1 km and marks the locality, not the estate; elevation is a terrain-model value for that point. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
