Ever wonder what teas the people who blend, package, ship, process orders, and more at Harney like to drink? We thought it would be fun to share some of their go-to teas for specific scenarios. Maybe you’ll find yours here, too, or discover something new you want to try. Check out the teas Harney staff members shouted out as the ones they can’t live without!
We asked: What is your favorite tea to drink when…
You get up?
- Supreme Breakfast. My uncle, Paul, came up with this blend of two classic breakfast teas: Chinese black tea and Assam black tea. This blend is the best of both worlds.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 4 | Aroma 4
- Organic English Breakfast. A blend of organic Chinese black teas from Keemun make a wonderful start to any day.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 2
- Scottish Morn. Scots demand the strongest of teas when they get up in the morning, and this one delivers. Strong enough to easily handle adding milk and sugar, and maybe even to stand your spoon in!
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 4 | Body 5 | Aroma 1
[Wondering what “Mike’s Rating” means? Get Mike’s explanation behind the ratings on his blog.]
You want to relax/go to sleep?
- Yellow & Blue. Need to relax? This herbal blend is a floral rapture of taste, color, and texture. It combines chamomile, lavender, and cornflowers in a tisane that is beautiful to look at, delicious to drink, and calming in every way.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 1 | Aroma 3
- Sleep. Our Sleep premium hemp-powered infusion makes counting sheep seem like a baaaaad idea... A delightfully dreamy blend of holy basil, moringa, and coconut, Sleep features 25 mg of hemp extract, hemp flowers, leaves, goji berries, and a hint of spiced nutmeg.
- Garden Therapy. Garden Therapy Herbal consists of soothing chamomile, peppermint, and verbena. This herbal tea was created in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of our Met Collection, and is housed in a lovely Monet tin.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 1 | Aroma 2
You need a pick-me-up during the day?
- Tropical Green. We love this fun tropical twist on a traditional green tea. To create it, we combined some of our finest hand-picked green teas from China with vibrant Hawaiian flavors. Our newest version of this tea is Café Tropical from our Schitt’s Creek Collection. Same tea as our Tropical Green, just with a little added Schitt’s Creek cheek!
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
- Genmaicha. Genmaicha is a different kind of Japanese green tea that many people find intriguing. Brown rice kernels (genmai) are added while the green bancha leaves (cha) are being dried, so the kernels get crispy and some burst open. It has a unique appearance and a pleasant roasted flavor.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 5
- Matcha. You may be spotting a trend here. Green teas have a higher caffeine content than black or oolong teas, and matcha – due to being made from the entire tencha leaf – has more caffeine than other greens. So if you’re looking for a pick-me-up, green teas will get ‘er done. Find a matcha that suits you in our wide variety of choices, from thin grade to flavored.
You’re cold?
- Black Cask Bourbon. Ready to send warmth coursing through your body? Black Cask Bourbon has prominent bourbon notes of vanilla, caramel, and smoky oak cask layered atop a smoky black tea base. Perfect for sipping slow and steady, just like bourbon.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
- Assam. Banish that chill with our Organic Assam, a rich black tea. My dad’s favorite morning tea, it has a slightly lighter liquor with a sweet honey flavor.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 3 | Body 3 | Aroma 1
- Victorian London Fog. If anyone knows something about getting rid of the cold in your bones, it’s the British. Victorian London Fog – known affectionately around Harney as “Vicky Vicky LoFo,” is a traditional Earl Grey black tea with bergamot, along with oolong tea for that smooth “milky” feeling plus lavender and vanilla.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
You want something sweet?
- Herbal Hot Cinnamon Spice. While we have many Hot Cinnamon Spice options to choose from to satisfy your sweet tooth without consuming sugar, this Harney staffer loves the non-caffeine option provided by this delicious, earthy, rooibos-based version.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 1 | Aroma 5
- Vanilla Comoro. Another decaf entry in this category, Vanilla Comoro offers up dessert-like flavors sure to satisfy a sweet tooth. Great for an after-dinner indulgence since it has virtually no caffeine to keep you up.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 1 | Aroma 3
- Indigo Punch (hot) or Peach Fresh Brew Iced Tea (cold). And here comes another herbal in the sweet category! Indigo Punch starts with butterfly pea flower tea, with added apple pieces, rose hips, lemongrass, lemon peel, raspberry and honey flavors. The lone caffeinated entry in this category, Peach Fresh Brew Iced Tea features the lovely flavor of juicy Georgia peaches with marigold flowers on a Chinese black tea base. Perfect for a sweet summer treat.
Mike’s Indigo Punch Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
Mike’s Peach Fresh Brew Iced Tea Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 3
You’re decorating for the holidays?
- Gingerbread Festival. You’ll get ginger and spice and everything nice in this heartwarming, spicy black tea. Enjoy the flavors of ginger root, cinnamon, a touch of molasses, vanilla, and spiced cloves in every cup. Makes a wonderful hot latte, too.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
- Williamsburg Holiday. It doesn’t get much more holiday than Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination! We used that gorgeous tradition to inspire this black tea blend of citrus, cinnamon, and cloves. Your purchase of Williamsburg products supports the non-profit Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
- White Christmas. Dreaming of a white Christmas…tea? We got you covered! This warm and nutty white tea with vanilla and almond flavors will give you all the magical feels of a cozy, snowy Christmas.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
You’re grumpy?
- Chocolate Mint. No one can be in a bad mood when drinking this deliciously decadent tea. This black tea with peppermint and chocolate flavor is so tasty…someone should invent a cookie with this flavor!
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
- Milky Oolong. This light-bodied oolong is so tasty! The warm aromas of hot milk rise to meet you as you bring the cup to your lips. You can’t help but smile when enjoying this smooth tea.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 2
- Fruits D’Alsace. Chef Jean Joho, formerly of Alsace and now of Chicago and Las Vegas fame, asked my dad, Mike Harney, to create a new dessert tea in 2011. This tea is inspired by fruits found in many Alsatian desserts. Customers love its bold, fruity flavors; Mike describes it as "Paris tea on steroids."
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
You’re sick?
- Organic Hibiscus Ginger. Boost your immunity with this organic brew. It combines flavors of tropical hibiscus, rosehips, apple, and powerful echinacea for an energetic, antioxidant-filled base. Add vitamin-rich lemon peel and soothing ginger root along with cooling eucalyptus, peppermint, and clove for a delicious tune-up.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 3 | Body 1 | Aroma 3
- Peppermint Herbal. Ahh, peppermint! Good for a stuffy nose, a sore throat or an upset tummy, there’s no denying the soothing qualities of this magical herb. We source ours from Washington state, and it is wonderfully aromatic.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 1 | Aroma 5
- Organic Ginger Lemon. A soothing, caffeine-free herbal infusion, our Organic Ginger Lemon is full of warming flavors. It combines the spicy and sweet notes of ginger with a twist of lemon for brightness. The boost of ginger’s antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and lemon’s vitamin C can’t hurt, either!
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 4 | Body 3 | Aroma 3
You’re watching a movie/tv/reading?
- Mutan White. This very special white tea from Fuan, in northern Fujian Province, China, is light and sweet with vegetal flavors. Pairs well with watching Mulan!
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 1| Aroma 2
- Soba. A Harney fam fave, Soba Roasted Buckwheat is a traditional Japanese specialty. It is naturally caffeine-free, with a delightful toasty flavor and nutty undertones. It can also be eaten and used in cooking.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 1 | Aroma 3
- Japanese Sencha. My grandfather and our founder, John Harney, began his morning with this pleasant and approachable Sencha from Japan.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 3 | Body 3 | Aroma 3
You want the most delicious tea you can think of?
- Royal Wedding. Created in honor of Prince William and Princess Kate’s wedding in 2011, this regal tea is a remarkable blend of Chinese mutan white tea buds with almond, coconut, and vanilla, and an abundance of pink rosebuds and petals.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 1 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
- Paris. Always one of our best-selling teas, Paris is a fruity black tea with vanilla and caramel flavors plus a hint of bergamot. Mike created it as an homage to that great city where he enjoyed tea in many French tea shops – and met my mother, Brigitte.
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 4
- Hot Apple Spice. Like you picked it straight off a tree, this bright black tea blend bursts with the sweetness of apples ripened in the orchard…if there was such a thing as an apple with cinnamon, orange peel, and ground clove flavors! Yum!
Mike’s Rating: Briskness 2 | Body 2 | Aroma 5
