Mike Harney Spills the Tea: Packaging

Mike Harney Spills the Tea: Packaging

Mike Harney shares the decisions and reasons behind Harney’s different types of tea packaging.
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Today we’re talking all about Harney packaging. “What, Mike? You expect us to read a blog post about the different packaging your tea comes in? Wait, let me read the tags on my mattress first, then I’ll be sure to get right to this…”

I understand your hesitation, but trust me, how we package our teas and why they’re packaged the way they are might be more interesting than you think. And I can promise you it’s a way more interesting read than the legalese on your mattress tags. Cross my heart.

The Early Days

If you’re a long-time Harney fan, you know that our teas come in everything from loose tea in tins to tea in sachets or tea bags contained in tins or bags, or individually wrapped tea bags. The tins vary greatly as well. Did you ever wonder why? Black & gold tins. Colorful HT tins. Octagon tins and round tins. Believe it or not, there are reasons for all of those choices and more. Well mostly. Sometimes we just do something because we like it!

Back in the early days when my dad, John, first started Harney & Sons Fine Teas, our teas were loose in tins. Eventually we found a vendor who could package our tea into tea bags, so we started down that road as well. 

Our signature Harney & Sons black and gold tins with our lions and crest logo was created by a designer named Ed Piechocki. Dad worked with Ed before I joined the company in 1988. Ed helped my dad with the logo and other early design roots that have provided a strong foundation that we have built on. I honestly am not sure why Dad chose black tins and gold labels, but we feel it gives us an air of being in business for many, many decades. Which is decidedly true.

Over the years, we have come to say that our logo reminds us of good tea leaves: two leaves and a bud. My brother, Paul, says that the lions are the “big cats.” He means himself and yours truly. Hear the Harney bros roar!

Tin Brothers from Another Mother

When it came time to start branching out from our standard black and gold tins, a marketing whiz we spoke with said we needed to update into colors, kinda like when Dorothy went from Kansas to Oz. So we started a line with “updated” blends like Winter White Earl Grey, a variation on our standard Earl Grey. Winter White is in an updated tin color, while Earl Grey remains in good ol’ black and gold. We gave this new sub-brand the name HT Collection rather than Harney & Sons Fine Teas to help further distinguish and call attention to them.

Our Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) line has a complicated origin story as well. Dad was asked if he wanted the licensing rights to market teas for these historic British palaces owned by the Royal family (but not for residential use). Dad was of Irish descent, but despite that he could not resist helping the Royal family. So we decided to do the tea in a new, octagon-shaped tin with jewel-like colors (or should I say “colours”), a nod to the fact that the royal jewels are kept in the Tower of London, one of the Historic Royal Palaces. Subsequently, we have become the largest licensor for the Historic Royal Palaces, which we think is pretty alright.

(See. Told you this was more interesting than reading your mattress tag.)

Our most recent tin design change is with our Wellness teas. I have always admired round tins and our designers, Mimi Ramos and Alanna Mulligan, were able to make stunning new designs with round tins for this line. While we’ve had several outside designers for our tins over the years, this year we decided it was important enough to bring designers inside our business, and we’re happy to have Mimi and Alanna design our products. My son Emeric gives them advice on what works based on his experience in our stores and running our website, while Paul and I sit back and let them create the magic. It takes about three to six months to go from design to production.

Tins, Sachets and Pouches, Oh My!

We get asked a lot about the best way to keep tea fresh, and “tins” is our best advice. Tins do a great job of keeping tea fresher longer because they do not allow light or air to degrade the tea. For our loyal fans, this can mean having a plethora of tins (which you can mitigate if you order refills in bulk and reuse your tins). We have a LOT of creative customers out there who find unique ways to reuse/repurpose their tins. Check out this  blog post with some simple, why-didn’t-I-think-of-that ideas. Or you can do like one enterprising customer did and make a dress out of them!

If you’ve ever wondered why some teas come loose in the tins and others come bagged, or about our other forms of packaging, here’s a brief, possibly even fascinating look at how that all has come about.

When it comes to choosing when to put tea into tea bags, it has to do with demand. Tea bags are made on a machine that makes 300 bags a minute, so we have to choose teas that have high demand. Because we can do smaller production runs for loose teas, a new tea starts as a loose tea in a tin, and then if it becomes wildly popular, it goes into other forms. Our tea Paris is a good example. It started as a loose tea, and later, when all our customers bought it, it graduated to tea bags and sachets. 

It’s interesting how these things develop. Upscale hotels and restaurants were our first customers; we only developed our legions of fans (like you) over decades of being in business. Foodservice has different requirements than individual consumers. They want portion control and prefer to avoid loose tea and strainers. Also, restaurateurs want to be able to go up to your table and offer you a tea chest and let you choose the tea you want. That’s why we started with tea bags and have made various tea chests to display our teas, just like in those fine restaurants and hotels. We bring the fine tea-drinking experience right into your home.

Later, we found the new nylon sachet machines, and we were the first to offer “silken” sachets in the States. These were an improvement over tea bags, because we could use larger tea leaves than the ones used in tea bags. This meant the flavors came through as clear as a bell. Hotels wanted them individually wrapped for sanitary purposes, so we offered “wrapped” tea sachets. Sort of tea bags on steroids.

Coffee shops wanted to have lots of sachets so that they could offer “tea to go,” and we started offering 50 tea sachets in a sack. Turns out our fans also wanted a bulk packaging of their favorite teas. So now, these 50-count sacks are very popular.

Everything has a story! Except your mattress!

As with all progress, there is a time of two steps forward and one step back. While bringing nylon sachets into the US seemed like a good idea at first, we came to realize that they are not good for the planet. So we started down the road to make them compostable. We have found a sugarcane material that works and were ready to make the change when COVID-19 hit, and the Japanese techs could not come over to adjust our machines. Let’s hope in several months they will be able to make the trip, and we can switch. We are also making other packaging compostable. Of course, loose tea has less packaging, so there are fewer issues. 

And that, ladies and gents, concludes our scoop on packaging teas at Harney. We hope you found this enlightening and enjoyable. We return you now to your mattress label.

75 comments

Lydia Dehn

I love your loose tea, I love your tins. Thank you! YOurs is a much needed brand. Hard to find good tea in a store, as you know. I am very thankful that you seem to have few problems importing during the pandemic.

I love your loose tea, I love your tins. Thank you! YOurs is a much needed brand. Hard to find good tea in a store, as you know. I am very thankful that you seem to have few problems importing during the pandemic.

Janice Miller

Excellent Read on your journey of packaging. I enjoyed it. I do enjoy collecting the tins, I use loose tea at home and sachets and bags when i go visiting. (Yes, I bring my own tea, and then request a cup and hot water.)

Excellent Read on your journey of packaging. I enjoyed it. I do enjoy collecting the tins, I use loose tea at home and sachets and bags when i go visiting. (Yes, I bring my own tea, and then request a cup and hot water.)

Elaine Jordan

I want to write, “F—k, that truly was a fascinating read!” Because it’s true. But I know you won’t print it. Nonetheless, I enjoy these posts and love your tea.

I want to write, “F—k, that truly was a fascinating read!” Because it’s true. But I know you won’t print it. Nonetheless, I enjoy these posts and love your tea.

Margaret Tucker

Thank you for the behind the scenes look into the packaging. As a new customer, I had wondered why there are so many different types of packaging, now I know. Love the jewel toned tins and am looking forward to trying many more tea varieties.

Thank you for the behind the scenes look into the packaging. As a new customer, I had wondered why there are so many different types of packaging, now I know. Love the jewel toned tins and am looking forward to trying many more tea varieties.

Sandy

Yay compostable tea bags. Good for us and Mother Earth. Excited for them to come out. Goodbye plastic.

Yay compostable tea bags. Good for us and Mother Earth. Excited for them to come out. Goodbye plastic.

Rainey Williams

“What, Mike? You expect us to read a blog post about the different packaging your tea comes in?“… What’s funny is YES! This is the first blog post I’ve ever actually read in full, because I HAVE always wondered! Thanks for sharing :)

“What, Mike? You expect us to read a blog post about the different packaging your tea comes in?“… What’s funny is YES! This is the first blog post I’ve ever actually read in full, because I HAVE always wondered! Thanks for sharing :)

Kim Yeaw

This is wonderful. I am sold on your company. Not only are your teas exceptional, but now I have a better understanding of your company. I think you have me sold to become a loyal customer. Thank you.

This is wonderful. I am sold on your company. Not only are your teas exceptional, but now I have a better understanding of your company. I think you have me sold to become a loyal customer. Thank you.

Paula

A related question : why does the same product seem to go by different names? I’m specifically thinking of Hot Cinnamon Spice vs Hot Cinnamon Sunset. Is there a real difference or is it just the name? Why?

A related question : why does the same product seem to go by different names? I’m specifically thinking of Hot Cinnamon Spice vs Hot Cinnamon Sunset. Is there a real difference or is it just the name? Why?

Elisabeth Burton

I do re-use my tins for new orders of tea but would really appreciate being able to order loose tea in bags smaller than one pound. Will that ever be possible?
And, I agree, and commend you, on the future sachets. Thank you!

I do re-use my tins for new orders of tea but would really appreciate being able to order loose tea in bags smaller than one pound. Will that ever be possible?
And, I agree, and commend you, on the future sachets. Thank you!

Matthew Ashford

I’m glad to hear about the advent of compostable sachets with the London Fog variety! This will obviate my landlord’s requirement to tear open the indigestible sachets. I bought a tin of this ages ago, now I just re-fill it with 50+ sachets. I invite other Earl Greys only to compete for my taste with this one; invariably they LOSE.

I’m glad to hear about the advent of compostable sachets with the London Fog variety! This will obviate my landlord’s requirement to tear open the indigestible sachets. I bought a tin of this ages ago, now I just re-fill it with 50+ sachets. I invite other Earl Greys only to compete for my taste with this one; invariably they LOSE.

Eileen R

Please offer loose tea in small amounts (4 oz) to refill Harney tea canisters!! Would be much more economical and less wasteful!

Please offer loose tea in small amounts (4 oz) to refill Harney tea canisters!! Would be much more economical and less wasteful!

Susan Burdette

Love your tea, and love your stories!

Love your tea, and love your stories!

orchidhunter

Oh, this is glorious news regarding the new compostable sachets. I am eagerly awaiting the time when you will be offering these.

Oh, this is glorious news regarding the new compostable sachets. I am eagerly awaiting the time when you will be offering these.

Ruth

Love your Teas—so glad I found you online, and enjoyed your blog post above. Started buying only your loose leaf teas when the info about tea bags and plastics leeching into the hot tea started being reported in the news (prior to this news would also buy your teabags and sachets based on where I was drinking my tea—ie at work)

Can you confirm your teabags and sachets are “plastic free” so I can go back to buying them? Thx for your help; this will also really help when I have to go to business meetings and conferences again and can choose a great cup of tea and not the ho hum cup of coffee.

Love your Teas—so glad I found you online, and enjoyed your blog post above. Started buying only your loose leaf teas when the info about tea bags and plastics leeching into the hot tea started being reported in the news (prior to this news would also buy your teabags and sachets based on where I was drinking my tea—ie at work)

Can you confirm your teabags and sachets are “plastic free” so I can go back to buying them? Thx for your help; this will also really help when I have to go to business meetings and conferences again and can choose a great cup of tea and not the ho hum cup of coffee.

Marquita Graves

Interesting background story of your fine tea tins. Thanks for the story and for the consistent excellence of your teas.

Interesting background story of your fine tea tins. Thanks for the story and for the consistent excellence of your teas.

Patty Gaspar

I found this entertaining as well as informative. Since the onset of Covid-19 I have truly missed my trips to lunch at your tearoom in Millerton. I appreciate your online business but there’s nothing as satisfying as an in person tea tasting. Oh by the way, this article did make me check out my mattress tag. You are certainly more interesting.

I found this entertaining as well as informative. Since the onset of Covid-19 I have truly missed my trips to lunch at your tearoom in Millerton. I appreciate your online business but there’s nothing as satisfying as an in person tea tasting. Oh by the way, this article did make me check out my mattress tag. You are certainly more interesting.

Sharlene England

I found this very interesting. And can’t wait till you get your new cane sugar tea bag satchels. I buy it all, loose and satchels, tins and bags. ❤️

I found this very interesting. And can’t wait till you get your new cane sugar tea bag satchels. I buy it all, loose and satchels, tins and bags. ❤️

Jenell Mahoney

Delightful tour through your history of packaging! And yes, we have lots of your tins…there are currently 34 of them in use lined up along our breakfast bar!

Delightful tour through your history of packaging! And yes, we have lots of your tins…there are currently 34 of them in use lined up along our breakfast bar!

Cody Ferguson

I like the current ways that Harney packages their tea…I just wish that you would keep Gunpowder Green Tea in stock. I usually order 3 one pound bags of it when I run low. Now you are sold out. I am supposed to be contacted by Harney when it is available so I can order it. I do not understand why a good company like Harney does NOT give their customers the ability to order the tea while you are out of it, place the order on back order and fill the request automatically when the tea comes in. Much more ‘user friendly’ plus Harney will sell more tea in the end. Just a thought.

I like the current ways that Harney packages their tea…I just wish that you would keep Gunpowder Green Tea in stock. I usually order 3 one pound bags of it when I run low. Now you are sold out. I am supposed to be contacted by Harney when it is available so I can order it. I do not understand why a good company like Harney does NOT give their customers the ability to order the tea while you are out of it, place the order on back order and fill the request automatically when the tea comes in. Much more ‘user friendly’ plus Harney will sell more tea in the end. Just a thought.

Oisín Young

Whew!! I was so worried that this was going to say that you were discontinuing the tins. I was about to cry.

Whew!! I was so worried that this was going to say that you were discontinuing the tins. I was about to cry.

Cindy

I just got another order from you last week and was thrilled to NO PLASTIC in the shipping box. I’m trying to take even small steps to avoid unneeded plastic as much as possible, in no way perfect! But since my tea was already in my favorite black and gold tins, the product was safe and just needed the paper and cardboard spacer to hold it in place. The paper is perfect for masking off paint jobs and the cardboard will make out to the garden as a weed barrier and the tins will end up on my spice shelf. All this to say, I really appreciate the care you take even in shipping your teas, it helps me do good things!

I just got another order from you last week and was thrilled to NO PLASTIC in the shipping box. I’m trying to take even small steps to avoid unneeded plastic as much as possible, in no way perfect! But since my tea was already in my favorite black and gold tins, the product was safe and just needed the paper and cardboard spacer to hold it in place. The paper is perfect for masking off paint jobs and the cardboard will make out to the garden as a weed barrier and the tins will end up on my spice shelf. All this to say, I really appreciate the care you take even in shipping your teas, it helps me do good things!

mark cooper

Mike

short, sweet and pithy – a history that confirms that Harneys was/is always on the cutting edge of tea blending, brewing and packaging

mark

Mike

short, sweet and pithy – a history that confirms that Harneys was/is always on the cutting edge of tea blending, brewing and packaging

mark

Michele Obrien

That was fascinating! And I love your tins they are beautiful and I keep them. My favorite tea of yours is Paris. I got it on a lark and it made me a Harney fan forever. Good luck with the compostable bags! Great idea.

That was fascinating! And I love your tins they are beautiful and I keep them. My favorite tea of yours is Paris. I got it on a lark and it made me a Harney fan forever. Good luck with the compostable bags! Great idea.

Arrel Tucker

I am glad the sachets will be compostable. I didn’t like the nylon and only your very wonderful tea has made me continue to purchase. I cut the bags and empty the leaves into my compost pot then put the bags in the garbage. Please advise when you have made the change and am so glad that you are doing so. Good Work.

I am glad the sachets will be compostable. I didn’t like the nylon and only your very wonderful tea has made me continue to purchase. I cut the bags and empty the leaves into my compost pot then put the bags in the garbage. Please advise when you have made the change and am so glad that you are doing so. Good Work.

Mary Nucci

I love your tea, especially royal English breakfast which has supplanted the tea I have drunk since I was a child. But I don’t like the tin package because I can’t recycle it and dislike making trash. Any thoughts to selling without the tin?

I love your tea, especially royal English breakfast which has supplanted the tea I have drunk since I was a child. But I don’t like the tin package because I can’t recycle it and dislike making trash. Any thoughts to selling without the tin?

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