In 1983, the family-run tea company Harney & Sons was born. At the time, John Harney started production out of his basement in Salisbury, Connecticut. Today they are headquartered in Millerton, New York where they also run the Millerton Shop. In 2010, Emeric Harney, the grandson of John Harney and 3rd generation Master Tea Blender, opened up the popular Harney & Sons SoHo Shop. While supervising that location, Emeric is also the Marketing Director for his family‘s tea business. At the tea table Emeric shared how his tea journey began at just 3 years old, what his personal tea sessions look like, a tea advice his grandfather passed down to him, and much more.
The kettle is on and I can hear it about to sing. What tea are you going to steep for us today?
I’m going to be steeping some of my favorite Japanese green tea, Scent of Mountains Sencha.
It’s hard to resist the aroma from that steep! Tell me a bit about your tea journey and how your love for tea evolved into joining the family business in 2008.
I first was introduced to tea at a very young age – when I was as young as 3 years old my family would have me working in our packaging facility (which at that point was just my grandfather’s garage!) and I would hand labels off to be applied to the tins. So tea really was part of my life from when I can remember.
At 16, I traveled to Germany where I performed an internship to learn more about the tea trade with our broker in Hamburg. I was tasting upwards of 300 teas a day and learning how to discern flavors and quality. Upon my return, I got to blending teas and so began my “adult” contributions to the family company. I worked at our retail store, then opened our flagship in Manhattan, and now run our e-commerce and marketing.
My fondest memory of drinking tea truly does stem from my grandparents. Each Sunday, we’d gather at their house for family breakfast, and there was always a pot of Sencha and a pot of some sort of breakfast tea available, without fail. If it wasn’t – Papa John certainly let it be known that it should!
The tea related “Price Points” episode you did with Epicurous was phenomenal. It’s always interesting to take note of different tea qualities and fun to challenge ourselves. Tell us about that experience and your biggest tip for finding high quality tea.
Working with Epicurious was a lot of fun! It was a long day of shooting and as someone who isn’t always in front of the camera it took some coaching about where to look and how to keep delivering information in a bright and interesting way, but I think in the end the video turned out enjoyable and informative.
In my brief 10 years of working in the tea industry, I’ve not seen a lot of changes come across in terms of pricing. I have seen quality change however, as the climate in tea growing regions is affected. My biggest tip to consumers when looking for high-quality tea is to ask questions, try and find a sample. Most long-standing, reputable companies will do their best to continue to provide high-quality tea, but before you go and try a new flavor or vendor, try and see if you can buy a sample before committing to a big lot! Also, it’s always better to buy in small amounts more frequently – fresh tea is irreplaceable!
Your tea travels have taken you to China, India, Kenya and more! Most recently you hosted a tea and food tour in Japan. Can you share one of your most memorable tea adventures?
It might be because it’s freshest on my mind, but this most recent trip to Japan was my most favorite to date. I’ve always been a Japanophile and have enjoyed going, but this time there was a fresh approach, and also 13 novice tea minds that I was able to share the experience with. It was truly remarkable.
You’re about to sit down for a tea session. Describe how that would look for you.
A tea session for me is about eliciting memories and enjoyment throughout the senses. It starts with the whistling of the kettle on the stove, the texture of my ceramic mug or matcha bowl under my fingertips. A white ceramic dish would rest nearby for me to put the dry leaves on and appreciate their beautiful nature. I use a wide mouthed mug that lets plenty of steam to billow up and let me really appreciate the aroma the leaves have released. The whole experience of tea is one that puts me at ease and allows me to reach into my mind and brings back memories of sharing tea with my family, with people I’ve traveled with.
Speed Round:
Black, Green, Yellow, White, Oolong or Puerh?
Green
Hot, Iced or Cold?
Hot
Teapot, Infuser or Gaiwan?
Infuser
Straight, Sweetened or Latte?
Straight
Cheese or Chocolate pairing?
Chocolate
What’s one important piece of tea advice from your grandfather that you follow and share today?
Buy tea that makes you smile!
Find Emeric Harney and Harney & Sons Tea:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
ABOUT THIS SERIES: Tea tells stories and when connected with humans, more are created. That’s where the idea for this blog series, At the Tea Table, originated. With this series, The Cup of Life asks tea lovers around the world to take us inside their tea lives to share their favourite steeps, spaces, routines and more. Meet some of your fellow tea drinkers here.
Very awesome story- it’s inspiring! Their location is a short 5ish hours away from me 😉
We used to go to the Desert Tea room in st.george utah.She had a tea blend called almond cookie. Do you have something similar. The owner of the tea room used to meet Harney and sons in las vegas.I grew up in Salisbury,my parents delivered milk for years.John and elise harney were their customers