It started as a hobby in the basement of the White Hart Inn in Salisbury, Connecticut and was shared only with inn guests. Now, over 30 years later, their 90,000 square foot facility in Millerton, New York ships to fans across the globe. Join us as we spill the tea on the Harney family and the story behind their tea business. The origins of how John and Elyse Harney gave birth to five children, a tea company, and a real estate business makes for funny, moving, and absolutely riveting listening. Tune in to the new 6 part Podcast, “As the Tea Steeps” presented by Emeric and Alexander Harney available now on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Don't have iTunes or Google Play accounts? Listen now on Libsyn.
As The Tea Steeps Episode 1 - Memories of A Matriarch
Welcome to the first episode of As The Tea Steeps, a podcast series about how tea shaped our family and how our family shaped tea in 21st century America. In our debut episode, Emeric & Alex Harney sit down with their grandmother and wife of Harney & Sons Founder, Elyse Harney.
Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. If you don't have either listening services, you can stream now on Libsyn.
As The Tea Steeps Episode 2 - Memories of A Tea Connoisseur
In the second episode of As The Tea Steeps, Emeric & Alex Harney sit down with International Tea Connoisseur James Norwood Pratt and their grandmother Elyse Harney. Find out how Norwood got his start in tea, and how he met and started a lifelong relationship with the Harney family.
Download now on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Don't have iTunes or Google Play? Stream now on Libsyn.
As The Tea Steeps Episode 3 - There's No Business Like The Tea Business
As The Tea Steeps Episode 3 - There's No Business Like The Tea Business In the third episode of As The Tea Steeps, Emeric & Alex Harney continue their conversation with James Norwood Pratt and Elyse Harney, touching on the founding years of Harney & Sons Fine Teas, and how Elyse supported the tea company with a venture of her very own!
Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Don't have an iTunes or Google Play account? Listen now on Libsyn.
As The Tea Steeps Episode 4 - The World According to Mike
In the fourth episode of As The Tea Steeps, we introduce our Michael Harney, 2nd son of founder John Harney. Mike shares how he ended up with the great gift of tasting and the early years of the company. Also joining for Episode 4 is renowned tea broker and family friend Marcus Wulf, who helped Michael deliver on his promise to make Harney & Sons a company that has a tradition of delivering directly from the source.
Listen to the newest installment or catch up on all 4 episodes on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Libsyn.
As The Tea Steeps Episode 5 - It's All Relative
In the fifth episode of As The Tea Steeps, Emeric and Alex introduce the 4th and 5th children of Harney & Sons Founder, John Harney. Paul and Elyse grew up in the earliest years of the company, working on weekends helping their father. They share their first memories of the company, their first jobs and how they later came back to work and support Harney & Sons. Grab your favorite cup of tea and sit back for an enjoyable, though brief episode. Tune in every other week for a new episode!
Listen now on iTunes, Google Play. If you don't have either listening services, you can stream now on on Libsyn
As The Tea Steeps Episode 6 - Sons & Daughters
In the final episode of our first season of As The Tea Steeps, Emeric and Alex continue their interview with Paul and Elyse and learn about Paul's story, from his years in the military, into a family trucking company and back to the family tea company. Paul's insight into operations and product differentiation are one of the key factors that Harney & Sons grew the way it did. Tune in for our last episode today!
Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts. If you don't have either listening services, you can stream now on on Libsyn
Thanks for listening! We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about our family. Want to learn more about the history of tea? Check out some of our favorites below:
12 comments
Vladimirownesee
minyashownesee
minyashownesee
RobertCig
Hi The I am Glad to become here Happy New Year
http://www.addbusiness.net/
Hi The I am Glad to become here Happy New Year
http://www.addbusiness.net/
TerryDaf
Very interesting to read you
Good luck to you
Very interesting to read you
Good luck to you
Jamie Klusacek
I have to say I am blown away by your tea. It has been my favorite brand for years now. I’m just now discovering your podcast and can’t wait to listen. For my 40th birthday this past year I sent a bag of tea to all 12 invitees along with their invitation. It was beautiful! Thank you for all you do!
I have to say I am blown away by your tea. It has been my favorite brand for years now. I’m just now discovering your podcast and can’t wait to listen. For my 40th birthday this past year I sent a bag of tea to all 12 invitees along with their invitation. It was beautiful! Thank you for all you do!
Nanci M. Budnick
When my boys played baseball, the shack sold penny candy. My favorite was those red fireballs that lasted a few innings of the game. A few birthdays ago A friend gave me a tin of Hot Cinnamon Sunset Tea. She enclosed a note…it will bring back memories. That same week I visited my daughter. She took out a pretty orange can and said I had to try this because it tasted just like fireballs at the ball field. I told her I had received some, and had a cup. I have been hooked ever since. I love the flavor if orange, clove and cinnamon. I have taken it to the hospital and have gotten the nurses hooked. Drank it while in rehab, and many of the worker there are new fans. I ordered some directly from you this week because it is getting difficult to find in my area.
When my boys played baseball, the shack sold penny candy. My favorite was those red fireballs that lasted a few innings of the game. A few birthdays ago A friend gave me a tin of Hot Cinnamon Sunset Tea. She enclosed a note…it will bring back memories. That same week I visited my daughter. She took out a pretty orange can and said I had to try this because it tasted just like fireballs at the ball field. I told her I had received some, and had a cup. I have been hooked ever since. I love the flavor if orange, clove and cinnamon. I have taken it to the hospital and have gotten the nurses hooked. Drank it while in rehab, and many of the worker there are new fans. I ordered some directly from you this week because it is getting difficult to find in my area.
Cheryl Lindsey
Your tea packaging is so beautiful. It looks prestigious and rich, just like your teas taste. Please continue with the same packaging trend and thank you so much for the sample sizes. This enables your customers to really make a good purchase with no mistakes. Keep up the great work and thank you for being an American home grown business!
Your tea packaging is so beautiful. It looks prestigious and rich, just like your teas taste. Please continue with the same packaging trend and thank you so much for the sample sizes. This enables your customers to really make a good purchase with no mistakes. Keep up the great work and thank you for being an American home grown business!
Lily
We just started listening to the podcast (a little late to the party!). We really like it! Will there be another season?
We just started listening to the podcast (a little late to the party!). We really like it! Will there be another season?
Jason Kassis
In recent years I’ve had to give up my morning coffee due to digestive reasons and I found myself changing to tea. Just like my taste for locally roasted gourmet coffee, I’ve search around and tried various gourmet loose leaf teas. Within the past year, I noticed this decorative brown tea box in a local Walmart labeled chocolate tea. I had never heard of Harney so I tried it. Since then I’ve enjoyed trying other samples and have it at work as my main go to tea in the morning. One of the attractions to this brand has been the fact that it’s a family business. I love the idea of the American entrepreneur who starts a business from nothing and makes it a success. My family were immigrants (great grand father came over on the RMS Olympic from Syria). He came here to make a better life for his family. Harney’s is just one of many stories of what makes America great. Enjoying the podcast.
In recent years I’ve had to give up my morning coffee due to digestive reasons and I found myself changing to tea. Just like my taste for locally roasted gourmet coffee, I’ve search around and tried various gourmet loose leaf teas. Within the past year, I noticed this decorative brown tea box in a local Walmart labeled chocolate tea. I had never heard of Harney so I tried it. Since then I’ve enjoyed trying other samples and have it at work as my main go to tea in the morning. One of the attractions to this brand has been the fact that it’s a family business. I love the idea of the American entrepreneur who starts a business from nothing and makes it a success. My family were immigrants (great grand father came over on the RMS Olympic from Syria). He came here to make a better life for his family. Harney’s is just one of many stories of what makes America great. Enjoying the podcast.
Julie Neu
We’ve been regular visitors in Millerton for years and thus already knew some of the origin story and have met some of the members of the Harney family, but we still devoured the podcast. Thanks for putting the pod together and sharing your backstory.
We’ve been regular visitors in Millerton for years and thus already knew some of the origin story and have met some of the members of the Harney family, but we still devoured the podcast. Thanks for putting the pod together and sharing your backstory.
Stack
I just discovered this podcast and I am enjoying it quite a bit. I’ve been around tea all my life, but it has only been in the last few years where I’ve appreciated it more. I’ve been primarily buying the 2$ samples to try as many of your teas as I can. I love your Hot Cinnamon, and Malachi McCormick!!
In the future of this podcast, I would LOVE to hear from the masters about your teas, steep times, temperatures, how you evaluate teas and things like that.
I’m still learning a lot about teas. For example, I /JUST/ discovered a few months ago that brewing a Green tea at a lower temperature and shorter steep time made them more appealing to me. I used to brew them like I did Black teas. I’ve found that I can brew a cup of your Scottish Morn, leave it steeping in the cup and drink, then refill the cup with hot water many times through the day and I love the stronger taste at first and the milder taste at the end of day. I also really like your All India, but I can NOT let it steep for long before it gets too bitter for me.
These things I’ve figured out on my own but I’d love to hear on the podcast how you brew and evaluate teas.
Thanks!
I just discovered this podcast and I am enjoying it quite a bit. I’ve been around tea all my life, but it has only been in the last few years where I’ve appreciated it more. I’ve been primarily buying the 2$ samples to try as many of your teas as I can. I love your Hot Cinnamon, and Malachi McCormick!!
In the future of this podcast, I would LOVE to hear from the masters about your teas, steep times, temperatures, how you evaluate teas and things like that.
I’m still learning a lot about teas. For example, I /JUST/ discovered a few months ago that brewing a Green tea at a lower temperature and shorter steep time made them more appealing to me. I used to brew them like I did Black teas. I’ve found that I can brew a cup of your Scottish Morn, leave it steeping in the cup and drink, then refill the cup with hot water many times through the day and I love the stronger taste at first and the milder taste at the end of day. I also really like your All India, but I can NOT let it steep for long before it gets too bitter for me.
These things I’ve figured out on my own but I’d love to hear on the podcast how you brew and evaluate teas.
Thanks!
Sue Scott
I loved hearing about the kids getting started in the business so early when the business was based at home, and how the conveyor belt ran through the greenhouse into the basement. Truly a labor of love.
I loved hearing about the kids getting started in the business so early when the business was based at home, and how the conveyor belt ran through the greenhouse into the basement. Truly a labor of love.
John Millstead
I am thoroughly enjoying the new podcast. I listened to all three episodes over the weekend and can’t wait until further installments. Way to go!
I am thoroughly enjoying the new podcast. I listened to all three episodes over the weekend and can’t wait until further installments. Way to go!