All children who know what’s good for them take Mother’s Day seriously…and I think that’s especially true when you’re part of a family-owned business like ours.
My brothers and I couldn’t ask for a better maman than Brigitte Harney…and of course, my grandmother, Elyse Deublein Harney, is the co-founder of our company, and the matriarch of us all. As the second Sunday in May draws ever closer, this seems like an opportune time for devoting a blog to motherhood, tea, and the many ways in which the two can intersect.
But First, This Quick Commercial
Every year, we all wrestle with the same old question: What do you get for the Mom who has everything? If you’re still searching for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, look no further than our curated Mother’s Day Collection, which offers everything from teapots to tea starter kits to a variety of gift sets.
Our Mother’s Day Tea & Treats Gift starts with a 30-sachet tin of our special Mother’s Day tea. Like a bouquet in a cup, this caffeine-free blend of rosebuds, chamomile, cornflowers, and orange peel offers a pronounced floral aroma, and a flavor in which the subtle flavors of rose and citrus combine with mellow chamomile. We’ve rounded out this gift set with a box of Allens Scottish Shortbread (flavored with Meyer Lemon) plus a cube of Milk Chocolate Confetti (tiny drops of milk chocolate in pastel-colored candy shells) from Sugarfina.
Looking to create an even more sumptuous spread for your mom’s special day? Our Mother’s Day Teatime Gift has you covered. As well as a colorful tin with 30 sachets of our delightful Mother’s Day herbal infusion, you’ll find a 20-sachet tin of our Peaches & Ginger HT tea. Combining the dark fruity notes of fresh peaches with the spicy zing of ginger, this flavored black tea can be enjoyed hot or iced.
Finally, because no tea is complete without something to snack on, we’re including a tin of handmade Scottish shortbread (Spanish Clementine flavor) from Shortbread House of Edinburgh, plus a jar of Black Hill Classic Marmalade.
Maybe these gifts won’t completely repay Mom for that whole “giving you life” thing…but they’ll make a pretty good start.
Misty Tea-Colored Memories
It probably goes without saying that tea was a big part of my childhood. Growing up, I often shared tea over breakfast with my mother….although she prefers Assam, and I enjoy Japanese greens. Luckily, she has more than one tea pot!
My brother, Alex, remembers sipping Hot Cinnamon Spice in a thermos at the sledding hill…and Yellow & Blue tea with honey for “little brother” before bed.
Brigitte, in turn, has fond memories of sharing after-school tea with her own mother, Edith…catching up over a pot of Lapsang Souchong during le goûter (the traditional French afternoon snack time).
As it turns out, many of our staff members had similar experiences with their own mothers and mother figures, so I took the opportunity to roam around and do a little investigative reporting.
What do you remember most about drinking tea with your mother?
Fabiola, Tea Consultant: Sitting down at the kitchen table, drinking tea, and talking about school.
Brenda, Gift Department: We would sit, enjoying tea and a snack, and have quiet talk…often while playing a game or working on a puzzle.
Mardell, Production: I just remember it always being a nice cozy time with my mom, dad, and sisters all together.
Virginia, HR: I remember feeling the warmth of my hands and my mom’s company.
Jennifer, Mail Order Operations: I remember laughter, advice, and anecdotes from his childhood.
Cap, Community Management & Photography: I remember the pot that my parents got for me to brew my tea in. It still lives on the shelf next to my kitchen sink.
Meghan, Marketing Support Staff: When I first moved to New York, I was about five years old and my mom was truly my best friend. On Sunday mornings she would make us tea, situate some biscuits on a plate, and we would write stories about princesses and bunnies in a Hannah Montana notebook.
What kinds of teas have you enjoyed with your mother?
Brenda, Gift Department: Plain black tea or flavored black tea.
Jennifer, Mail Order Operations: Raspberry Herbal, Lemon Verbena, and Hot Cinnamon Spice.
Virginia, HR: Peppermint, Cinnamon, and Lemon Grass.
Mardell, Production: Mainly a lot of different black teas, but I have enjoyed showing her some green tea blends she was less familiar with, like Tokyo, White Peach Matcha, and Blueberry Green.
Does your mother have a favorite tea?
Jennifer, Mail Order Operations: Raspberry Herbal and Paris.
Meghan, HR: She loves chamomile.
Mardell, Production: Definitely Earl Grey, she loves bergamot!
Cap, Community Management & Photography: She’s a big fan of the Hot Cinnamon Spice and has been enjoying the wellness blends as well….Tune Up and Rejuvenate.
I’ll answer this one myself, too…while Brigitte probably has a favorite tea for each period of the day, she’s always had a distinct preference for teas that weren’t too sweet. She truly enjoys brisk or dry teas…and my brother, Alex, points out that she’s one of very few mothers to have a tea named after her! Brigitte’s Blend is an elegant, full-bodied mixture of silvery Ceylon and tippy, full-leaf Assam.
Also, I often think of my mother when the topic of New Vithanakande comes up. Not only is it one she enjoys, but there’s something about its unique qualities of silver tips in black tea (plus a hard-to-pronounce name, and a brew profile that can take some getting used to) that reminds me of Brigitte.
What Harney & Sons tea would you most like to share with your kids on Mother’s Day?
Fabiola, Tea Consultant: Island Dreams.
Jessica, Wholesale Operations: Matcha iri Genmaicha.
Virginia, HR: Peppermint, Tune Up, or Chai.
Jennifer, Mail Order Operations: Paris tea with a dessert.
Cap, Community Management & Photography: If our daughter would just try the Ginger Liquorice I bought her for Christmas, I’d be happy! She likes the Raspberry and Chamomile, but I think she’d really like the Ginger Liquorice with just a dab of honey.
Is there one special teatime with your mother that stands out for you?
Mardell, Production: I remember one time my mom opened a tin of blueberry green tea and smelled it and said, “I would love to live inside this tin,” and I just thought that was such a funny thing to say!
Cap, Community Management & Photography: During the pandemic, she came over for tea on a cold winter day. We hung out at the kitchen table, chatting over tea and watching the snow fall with my dog. It was a real moment of calm in an otherwise troubling time.
Meghan, Marketing Support Staff: When I was seven or eight my mom, little brother, and I were having a tea party in my room together. I had a pink cupcake tea set and my mom had baked a bunch of yummy delights for us. We were listening to Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift CDs on my karaoke machine. It felt truly magical to be there with my mom and little brother.
Virginia, HR: Any time drinking tea with her is special!
Sharing the Gifts of Tea and Time
I hope all our stories of sharing good times and good teas with our moms have summoned up a few pleasant memories of your own! Thanks very much for reading…and have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
