Cornwallis House Tea Co. is unique because we have three distinct aspects to our business that are all brought together by the same story. Of course, we are a tea company, blending tea for sale– but we are also a restaurant as well as a proud representative of the history and culture of the Olde English District through our affiliation with our namesake.

This story centers around the Cornwallis House in historic Winnsboro, SC; the home in which Lord Cornwallis headquartered during the famous “Winter of Discontent” when Patriot forces were beginning to push back against the British. This is located right in the heart of an area of South Carolina nicknamed the Olde English District due to its rich history.

Our family relocated from Atlanta, GA to South Carolina searching for a place steeped in character and historic lore, and so we found more than we ever dreamed when we found Winnsboro. When we acquired the Cornwallis House we wanted to open a business that captured the essence of the home and the area. Tea was a natural fit!

Through trial and error, we worked to blend the perfect teas to embody what about our new home of South Carolina we loved best, and the eight hot brews (followed later by our unique iced tea blend) were thus created and lovingly named.

We started selling with help from the Certiied SC program through art/trade shows and farmers markets, and even fairs and historic events, trying to get our product out. One question we were always asked was if we had a location in Winnsboro of our own. The home (and base of our tea-blending operations) is our family residence and not open to the public, but we did think it would be a good idea to open a shop in town. One thing led to another, and before we knew it The Cornwallis House Tea Co. on Congress Street in downtown Winnsboro had evolved into a full service tearoom/cafe as well as a shop!

The Cornwallis House Tea Co. is truly a family run business with a focus on promoting the history of our beloved state and we cannot wait to share our hospitality with you! Ordering our teas online is now a simple process, but we also hope you have the time to schedule a visit to our tearoom and historic town.