Three Generations Celebrate 30 Years of Fine Teas: Harney & Sons

It was 30 years ago in Salisbury, Connecticut, when proprietor of the historic White Hart Inn, John Harney, developed a passion for fine teas. Starting production out of his basement in 1983, John began his own journey in mastering the craft of tea blending. Serving his distinctive blends with inn guests, he soon found they were coming back for more. Never did John Harney imagine that his small home-run business in Salisbury, Connecticut would turn into a global operation, now headquartered in Millerton, New York filling 90,000 square feet of warehouse space, and employing over 170 people, making it one of the largest employers in the Hudson Valley. In celebration and recognition of Harney & Sons and this momentous occasion, George Jage, Founder and Director of World Tea Expo commended them as he stated, “John Harney has been an icon at our World Tea Expos for 10+ years.  I can always count on him, perched in his director’s chair and surrounded by loyal fans and admirers. Harney & Sons has been a pioneer in specialty tea and John was well ahead of his time when he started his company.  Their success has paved the way for so many of us in the industry and I tip my cup to them on 30 years.”

Today, Harney & Sons Tea remains family owned and managed, with three generations of Harney's preserving John's tradition of fine tea and traveling the world in search of the finest ingredients. John Harney remembers, “It was a mere 30 years ago that I started this journey of Harney & Sons. And I am quite pleased at the progress. At the beginning, it was just me [and] a few teas. Now, my sons assist me with many others and we offer you over 300 teas.” Harney & Sons continues to grow with the family, who work together to preserve the established tradition of fine tea.” As a marker of Harney & Sons’ foundation 30 years ago, the company has created a special 30th Anniversary Blend in honor of their founder. This special blend melds one of John’s favorite teas, Ceylon & India, with Chinese Silver Needles and Yunnan Golden Tips. I always enjoy a visit to the Harney booth to see what’s new – and there is always something!  I admire the Harney mission to deliver quality tea products to their customers, and to educate the world about the history of tea and how wonderful it is. I wish them many more years of continued success. Gail Gastelu, Publisher, The Tea House Times