Sweetgrass Baskets were birthed by necessity dating back to the 1600s, beginning when bond slaves needed a way to separate the husk from the rice. Using a woven “fanner” workers threw the rice in the air causing the husk to blow away.  Today’s baskets evolved from this old Gullah tool.  When the tradition of weaving sweetgrass started, it was the men who were the artisans. As time went on the women learned the skill and kept the art form alive.  The now beautiful and intricate baskets woven from sweetgrass are an integral part of Lowcountry history. Each basket takes upwards of 40 hours to create. The complex designs are woven tightly enough to hold water.

No conversation about drinks in the South could possibly be complete without mentioning sweet tea - the official hospitality drink of South Carolina.  Sweet tea started as a luxury item, as at the time, all 3 ingredients (tea, ice, sugar) were rare and expensive. The oldest known recipe for sweet tea was published in the cookbook “Housekeeping in Old Virginia” in 1878. The original recipe called for green tea, the most popular tea of that time.  World War II brought about a shortage of green tea, so by the end of the war black tea had taken its place. Also, back in the day, sweet tea was sometimes enjoyed as a punch mixed with various spirits, mint and cream...the precursor to the modern Mint Julep!