After living near the Smokies for three years, this park and the community hold a special place in my heart. The Smoky Mountains is the most visited park in the US with numbers such as 11.4 million visits in 2018. There is a multitude of reasons for these large numbers. On my last visit to the Smokies I met a woman and her family on vacation. She told me she vacationed in the Smokies every year since the 1970s and hikes a different trail every year! The variety of hiking trails is only one of the reasons people keep coming back. Delicious blackberries grow abundantly here and it's almost impossible to leave the Smokies without blackberry flavored goodies: Blackberry jam, blackberry donuts, and (the best) blackberry moonshine. Naturally when designing a blend for this park we started with a prominent blackberry flavor then added a subtle smoky taste which represents the haze that lays across the mountains.

History:
This National Park is unique because, unlike out west where the government owned the land, the proposed land for the Smokies was already occupied by European settlers (farmers, loggers, and other businesses). After a trip to several national parks in the west, Anne Davis decided that the Great Smoky Mountains would be a perfect home for a national park. She set out to take part in establishing this park in order to halt the progress of loggers, who were beginning to diminish resources and wildlife from the area. She was elected to the state legislature with this goal in mind and became instrumental in proposing the legislation that provided funds for the purchase of the Little River Lumber Company land that became the kernel for what would grow into the national park. Her efforts were one of many that dated back to the late 1890's in the struggle to establish a western style national park in the east.

In 1929, the same year that Simpson & Vail was incorporated, the National Park Service set out to purchase private land within the proposed park boundaries. While many people sold their holdings others, like the Walker family, were more resistant. John and Margaret Jane Walker lived in a small 3 room, two story cabin with their eleven children. After John Walker died, he left the home to his six unmarried daughters. The sisters refused to leave their home and it wasn't until 1940, that they agreed to sell their family residence with the stipulation of being allowed to live out their lives on the property. As visitors began to flood the Smokies, the Walker sisters still lived their humble, mountain lifestyle. They were welcoming to tourists for a little over 30 years after the park's founding until, in 1966, the last sister passed away. The Walker's homestead still stands and is a visual reminder of the mountain lifestyle that once existed in the Park.

Ingredients: Black teas, lapsang souchong tea, blackberries, blackberry leaf, marigold petals and blackberry flavor.

Brew tea at 212º - steep for 3 minutes.

4 Ounces of loose tea makes approximately 50 cups of tea.

Please note that the photo is shown for our 4oz tin. We are also offering this in a 4oz pkg size, which will come in one of our double lined bags labeled with the name of the tea.

We DONATE 10% of all tea sales in this line to help preserve our beautiful National Parks. The percentage from The Great Smoky Mountains Tea sales go to Friends of the Smokies, an official non-profit of the park. The primary purpose of Friends of the Smokies is to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and public awareness, and providing volunteers for needed projects.


In 2016 I started, while in college, working here at Simpson & Vail. I've enjoyed exploring the world of teas and decided in 2019 to combine my love of tea with my passion for the great outdoors. My goal with this line is to do my part in preserving the beautiful lands designated as national parks and to raise awareness for why the parks are so important. I've seen only a small portion of the unique lands we call National Parks, however, I'll continue exploring until I've seen them all.

Free Shipping on orders over $50

Free ground shipping on retail orders over $50 within the continental U.S. If you are shipping to multiple addresses each order must be over $50.

We ship 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. We normally ship orders within 24 hours of receipt.

International Orders:

Orders shipped outside the US will be shipped via US Postal Mail (either Global Express, Priority Mail or First Class [packages under 4 lbs]). For orders shipping to Canada, freight charges should be calculated at the time of checkout.  For other orders shipping outside the US, additional shipping charges will apply and we will email you the freight total prior to shipping your order. Simpson & Vail, Inc. is not responsible for and can offer no specific advice on import fees, duty, Customs or taxes that you may be charged when your merchandise reaches you and urges you to consult your local government import office with any questions.

Wholesale Orders:

Orders to wholesale accounts will be shipped via UPS. Freight charges will be assessed prior to shipping. Please notify us if you would like a quote prior to our shipping your order. Otherwise, all orders will have the freight charges added to their merchandise price.

Other Shipping info:

All merchandise purchased through this site is F.O.B. Brookfield, CT. Title to the merchandise passes to you at the time of delivery by Simpson & Vail, Inc. to a common carrier, as well as responsibility for all shipping fees.

Order Cancellations:

You may cancel your order for any reason prior to shipment and receive a full refund. Should you desire to cancel an item, which has not been received, please call at: 800-282-8327. You will be advised if your merchandise has not been shipped and may therefore still be canceled. If the merchandise has already been shipped and a cancellation is allowed, it will be your responsibility to pay the complete shipping and handling charges. Special order merchandise cannot be canceled.

 More information on caffeine content can be found HERE.