About Oliver Pluff

Sip a Cup of History

Oliver Pluff is an all-American company preserving the tradition of time-honored teas and early American coffee blends. The tradition of tea and coffee spans American history in its entirety. Our teas and coffees honor this history through flavors, ingredients, and more. 

A cup of Oliver Pluff tea or coffee is a toast to superior quality of ingredients, and a tribute to the American story. We would love to share a cup of history with you!

Oliver Pluff & Company is a Veteran Owned Small Business.

Oliver's Family

Oliver's Family

The Warehouse and Production Team!

We give our best effort in providing you the highest quality product.  We respect the story of early America and the teas, toddies and coffee the founders enjoyed and want to share it with you authentically.  History and the beverages we produce, are meant to be shared.  We hope you enjoy Oliver Pluff products as much as we enjoy making them for you!  

 

Darren Hartford, Owner and Tea Blender
darren@oliverpluff.com

Favorite Product:  Colonial Bohea Tea

Darren was born and raised in Smithfield, Maine. Darren spent over 28 years in the Air Force where he had the opportunity to travel the world and experience many different tea and coffee cultures. He and his family settled in Charleston and he is enjoying sharing the story of Early American Beverages!  

  

 

Carol Rice, Sales Manager
carol@oliverpluff.com

Favorite Product:  Cacao Shell Tea

Carol is a native of Charleston and currently lives on the Isle of Palms. She is the self-proclaimed "Tea Lady" and has been involved in the tea trade for the past 8 years. Carol is currently serving on the Isle of Palms City Council and takes huge pride in her community. Carol enjoys live music, camping with her family and taking her dear dog Hudson to the bark park. Carol loves to talk tea and looks forward to creating lasting relationships with new tea friends.

 

Victoria Latham, General Manager
vic@oliverpluff.com

Favorite Product:  Passionfruit Peach

Victoria (V3) is originally from in Montgomery, AL but has lived in Charleston for over 10 years. She began working with us during the summer of 2023 after being a part of our marketing team. A life-long tea and history lover, she grew up doing living history reenactments and can't go a day without a cuppa. In her free time, you can find her scouring estate sales for antiques or traveling!

 

Cara DiGiuseppe,  E-Commerce Manager
cara@oliverpluff.com

Favorite Product:  Passionfruit Peach

Cara was born in Charleston, SC and raised up north in New Jersey. After graduating from the University of South Carolina in May of 2022, she moved down to Charleston! In her free time you can find her on the beach or shopping. She has a passion for community service and animal conservation. Her first job as a teenager was a Barista at a small coffee shop back in NJ, which sparked her interest in coffee and tea! Cara has been with us since September of 2023.

 

Victoria Velez, Assistant Warehouse Manager

Favorite Product: Cacao Shell

Victoria is from San Antonio, TX and moved to Charleston in the fall of 2021 and has been working at Oliver Pluff ever since. She loves shopping, traveling, and hanging out with her dog Sam. 

 

Victoria J

Victoria Jenkins,  Food Safety and Inventory Specialist

 Favorite Product:  Masala Chai 

Victoria J started working for Oliver Pluff in the fall of 2021.  She has lived in the Charleston area for a  little over 18 months moving here from central Arkansas. 

  

Mary Hanckel, Bookkeeper

Favorite Product:  Southern Style Iced Tea

Mary is native to Charleston and can't imagine living anywhere else.  Mary has always enjoyed living on the coast and has taken advantage of the seas by spending many years boating!  She has two sons, one daughter, and a granddaughter who she enjoys spending time with and who light up her life.  Mary likes her Southern Style Iced Tea sweet- "the way it was meant to be."

 

Michelle Strager, Sales Representative – New England and New York
michelle.mssales@gmail.com, 781-581-9394

Favorite Product:  Colonial Blend Coffee

Michelle is a coffee lover and enjoys traveling historic New England for her job. A native of Massachusetts, she spends her free time knee deep in some sort of home improvement initiative, painting, or spending time with friends and family. Michelle has also served as an adjunct professor at Marion Court College for the past 5 years for a course on “Principles of Buying”.  She lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters.