By Perry Luckett, TeaManToo

I recently mused about whether towns named coffee (or using the word in their names) existed in the United States. Turns out they did. So I thought we should give our other favorite libation (tea) a chance for equal time, if possible. But after scouring the internet and Census Bureau sources, I could discover only two: Tea, Missouri and Tea, South Dakota.

Tea, Missouri: a cozy cluster of homes on Tea Road (of course)

This little area is a Census-designated “populated place” along Hwy 523/524 in the Brush Creek Township, which is itself a “minor civil division” of Gasconade County, Missouri. Tea appears on the Owensville East U.S. Geological Survey Map, even though it lies about nine miles southeast of Owensville using State Highway V.

Tea is in a wooded area just a half mile from Tea Lake and 500 feet or so from Brush Creek, so residents have access to outdoor recreation. With State Highway T just to the west, Tea residents also have good access to small towns Rosebud (pop. 409) and Owensville (pop. about 2,700). The nearest large city is O’Fallon (70 miles) or St. Louis (80 miles); both require about an hour and a half of travel on state highways.

If Tea, Missouri residents want to fill their teapots or drink tea in a cozy setting, they must either order it through the mail or visit another town, such as Rosebud or Owensville. In Rosebud they can find a cozy little café called Cuppa Joel, where they can enjoy coffee, tea, and some goodies. Or they can take the tea to go and slip over to Suppertime Bakery, where delightful cookies in historical flavors and intricate designs tempt the palate. Owensville, a much larger but still small town, offers a few more choices for tea and coffee.

But if residents of Tea want to experience full tea service, they must travel to The London Tea Room in St. Louis. Located in the heart of Tower Grove South, The London Tea Room offers a cosy retreat from the bustle of city living. Patrons can start their day with a pot of tea and a scone or have a light lunch of quiche and soup near a lovely Victorian park. They can then take home to Tea, Missouri, some loose leaf tea—selecting from more than 100 global varieties.

Tea, South Dakota: a cozy small town with German roots

The history of this town named Tea began when the railroad established a town called Byron in Delapre Township, to which they brought a depot, several grain elevators, and mail service. Residents decided it was “time for tea” when they laid out the town in 1900 and then incorporated it in 1906. According to the town’s website, the founders didn’t select the name “Tea” solely because it was brief, as sources often suggest. Idena Schreiver’s history notes point out the town’s original residents applied to the federal government to establish a post office. The postal authorities told town fathers several other communities were also named Byron, so they asked the community to select 10 short names from which authorities would choose one.

At a cozy meeting around the pot-bellied stove in Heerens and Peters General Store, townspeople came up with nine names but couldn’t think of an acceptable 10th. Because most of the group were Germans, afternoon tea was a necessity, so someone suggested they break for tea. While the luscious liquid steeped in several teapots, folks agreed “Tea” would be a cozy name for the list. Postal authorities later told town leaders they had selected Tea for the official post office designation.

Like many small towns, Tea has shown considerable growth and change

The Heerens were “movers and shakers” in Tea’s early days. They were partners in the Heerens and Peters General Store, which sold groceries, general merchandise, machinery, kerosene, and the like. It was a two-story building with the telephone office on the southeast corner of the second floor until the store burned down in 1911. The town’s first post office also was in this store, with John Heeren as the first postmaster. The first rural route began in 1903 with Henry Heeren as the mail carrier. After his death in 1906, his wife Flora carried mail for the next 30 years. William Heeren opened Tea’s first lumberyard (where the Legion Hall is now) in 1895 and closed it in 1909.  [IS]

The Tea Public School originated in 1879 with the building of the first schoolhouse (built 1 1/2 miles west of the present edifice). Eleven pupils enrolled under the tutelage of the school’s first teacher: Mr. Mahor. The two-story schoolhouse built in Tea in 1904 was used until the town built a new one in 1959—still used today.

The population of surrounding Delapre Township has doubled with housing developments and acreages taking over some of the fine farmland. Tea's population has tripled—about 5,600 in 2018. The large school in Tea serves much of Delapre Township and is part of the Lennox School District. The Harrisburg School District serves families in the eastern part of the township. [IS]

Interstate 29 opened in 1958 and has encouraged business growth. At the Tea interchange is the Great Plains Airport, established in 1969 under the name of Sky Haven Airport. It’s the busiest private airport in South Dakota. Only the Sioux Falls airport records more daily departures and landings. Nearly 50 businesses have located near the airport and the Tea interchange. [IS]

With housing developments growing next to businesses and farms, the area has seen many changes in the past 10 or 20 years. If the immigrants of yesteryear were to return today, with their mainly German agricultural heritage, they would be more than a little surprised at the changes in every area of Delapre Township.

Despite this growth, however, Tea hasn’t seen a bona fide tea shop spring up within their town limits. Fortunately, residents who want to taste teas before buying can visit The Spice & Tea Exchange of Sioux Falls, which lies just 11 miles to the northeast using Interstate 29 and State Hwy 42.

Tea honors the drink with Teapot Days: a cosy celebration

Teapot Days is a cosy annual community event held each June that lasts three days. The event features carnival rides, fireworks, food vendors, musical concerts, craft or art shows, and a parade. Festivities kick off with a CommuniTEA BBQ at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Mighty Thomas Carnival runs Thursday night through Saturday.

Other highlights include the crowning of Ma & Pa Teapot and the Teafest Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show & Shine. Events on Saturday include a pancake breakfast, parade, vendors in Tea Park, the Tea Lions pork feed, and fireworks. Like my own German relatives, Tea’s descendants of German settlers love good food and festivities.

Unfortunately, the city of Tea announced in May they were canceling Teapot Days for 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. They had scheduled Nashville country music artist John King and Sugar Daddy to perform as part of the event. Also canceled were the Mighty Thomas Carnival, kids pedal pull, street dance, parade, and fireworks. Presently, they have the celebration on schedule for June 2021.

If reading about towns named “tea” inspires you to drink some of the tasty beverage, enhance your experience with our Tea Tabards™­­­ (teapot cozy) and Kup Kaps™ (cup cover or lid). They keep your teapot and teacup cozy hot and your tea satisfying to the last drop.

References

“Tea, Missouri,” Missouri Hometown Locator, https://bit.ly/3kJOirQ, (2020). [MHL]

Shannon Darnall, “Tea, South Dakota,” 35 American Towns and Cities Named for Food. The Daily Meal.com: https://bit.ly/2Z84RVR, (July 24, 2017). [SDT]

Idena Schriever, “History of Tea,” https://www.teasd.com/history-of-tea, (2020).  [IS]

“Tea, South Dakota,” Wikipedia: https://bit.ly/38yED1K, (June 16, 2020).  [WikiT]