Authentic, simple and delicious. Destination Taste is our way of welcoming you upon your arrival with an invitation to savor a "bite" of our local cuisine. This small treat provides the perfect tasty introduction to the unique cuisine, famous dishes and culinary delights in our destination.
Charleston Tea Plantation, a living piece of American History originating from nearby Wadmalaw Island, is home to the only tea grown and packaged in America. Our signature Sweet Tea is sweetened using honey raised in hives in Wagram, NC. Wagram Apiary has 247 hives that produce approximately 300 gallons of honey annually without any chemicals or pesticides throughout the process. Interestingly enough, honey is the only product produced by nature that requires no further processing and it’s said that two out of every three things we as humans do are directly influenced by honey bee pollination. A staple tradition we admire here on the Charleston coast is porch-sittin' - perfected with a glass of good ole Sweet Tea and a hammock or rocking chair.
French settlers first brought Pecan Pralines to Louisiana, where both sugar cane and pecan trees were plentiful. During the 19th century, New Orleans chefs substituted pecans for almonds, added cream (a quintessential Southern enhancement) to thicken the confection, and thus created what became known throughout the American South as the praline. With New Orleans being a port city, pralines quickly made their way to Charleston where pecan trees – the only major nut tree native to the U.S. – grow abundantly. Charleston chefs continue to put their twists on this sweet southern tradition, which has been staple in candy shops for decades.
Occasionally called the “caviar of the South” and a big hit with South Carolinians, the General Assembly named Boiled Peanuts the official state snack in 2006. Peanuts have been eaten boiled for centuries in Africa and it seems to have been a common way of preparing them in antebellum South Carolina when they were green and fresh out of the ground. Luckily enough for us boiled peanut lovers, they are a great source of vitamins and minerals, fiber and antioxidants. Tip from the locals: boiled peanuts should always be accompanied by a beer, sweet tea or a soft drink.
There are certain treats that tie to memory so easily. Anyone who has snacked on Salt Water Taffy knows this creamy and soft candy will remind you of summer days on the beach. Contrary to popular belief, the taffy contains no actual sea water. However, it does contain both salt and water. Local Jimmy Hagood, Food for the Southern Soul, produces Charleston favorites from shrimp sauce and dry rubs to stone-ground grits, Charleston Gold Rice and artichoke relish, Hagood is keeping the tradition of soulful southern food alive and experimenting with this popular souvenir with visitors to coastal towns.
Lowcountry Lemon Drop cookies evolved from the English tea cake which came to America sometime in the 1700s, and was typically only served at afternoon or high tea in the homes of wealthy planters. It wasn’t long before the little tea cakes found their way into the lives of poor southerners, who adopted them and made them into their own cookie creation using more affordable, basic ingredients, a lot more sugar and lemon for that hint of freshness. Served only at special times, these cookies represented a taste of the better life for those while more humble realities.