Every so often, you’ll find yourself lying wide awake at 3 AM, staring at your bedroom ceiling, and pondering the mysteries of life. Why are we here, anyway? Do humans truly have free will? What if my family members and I were all different blends of tea?
Honestly, for me, that last one isn’t too much of a stretch. Like true teas, we Harneys share common roots. We can be straightforward or complex. And half the time, we’ve all got a fair amount of caffeine in us.
So, with no further ado, let’s flip on the lights, pull out the laptop, and see where this unusual, sleep-deprived premise leads us.
Elyse Harney: Hao Ya 'A'
Elizabeth G. “Elyse” (Deublein) Harney is a matriarch in the truest sense of the word. Spiritually grounded and possessed of a deep, quiet strength, my grandmother commands respect without demanding it. Composed and elegant, she’s a warm presence, a constant in the lives of those around her, and remarkably open to modernity and progress.
If Elyse were a tea, she’d be one that’s warm to its core and resolute in character. One that’s carried generations forward yet remains unmistakably relevant…perhaps a Keemun tea. Hailing from the rolling hills of China’s Anhui province, Keemuns have long been highly regarded, and Hao Ya is one of the highest grades available. Our Hao Ya 'A', an intense black tea with a cocoa/apricot aroma and dark cocoa flavors, contains a generous portion of high-quality tips to add sweetness and smooth texture.
Mike Harney: Organic Assam
My dad is energetic, optimistic, and forward-moving. Traditional and conservative in the stewardship of our brand, he’s also our family’s trusted palate authority, possessing a judgment that’s been perfected over time. Though exceptionally charismatic, he has no interest in status symbols or pretense. Invested in people, he leads through presence, familiarity, and consistency.
If he were a tea, he’d be one that doesn’t call attention to itself…but once you got to know it, you’d trust it completely. I think our Organic Assam is an appropriate “alter tea-go” (and since Mike starts every day with a cup or two of Assam, this is a classic case of “you are what you drink”).
Sourced from an estate on the northern side of India’s Brahmaputra River, this tea generally has the golden tips (and therefore, the sweet honey flavors) found in the best Assams. Medium-bodied with good heft, this organic brew offers a flavor with notes of bittersweet roasted malt.
Brigette Harney: Mutan White
My mom, Brigitte (Guillot) Harney, was born in Suresnes, France…so it’s not entirely surprising that she has a European elegance. Composed, refined, and stylish, she pairs softness with strength. Often acting as a moderator and a stabilizer, she leads through calm authority…but her outward reserve conceals a warm core.
Were Maman a tea, she might be Mutan White, which reveals its inner essence slowly and becomes deeply warm as the two of you spend more time together. Grown in China’s Fujian Province, in the coastal city of Fuding (where the commercialization of white tea began), Mutan White is dried after harvesting. That production method allows a bit of oxidation to occur, which gives this brew (the darkest of all white teas) some fruity and vegetal flavors, similar to those of steamed yellow squash or leeks.
Alex Harney: Wenshan Baozhong
How best to describe my brother, Alex? First and foremost, he is a vision-oriented creator who is guided by his passion (feeling first, and refining later). Deeply invested in the team’s morale and emotional health, he’s been our family’s translator across three generations. He has a deep respect for legacy and brand integrity, but is comfortable living in the tension between tradition and change.
If Alex were a tea, he would be one that lives between worlds and translates tradition into something that others can feel and carry forward. Our Wenshan Baozhong has Alex written all over it. It’s a beautiful Taiwanese oolong made by the Cheng family (which has been making Baozhongs for over a century). Tasting of honeyed flowers, this light-bodied tea’s fragrant aroma offers a complex blend of gardenia, jasmine, and butter.
Emeric Harney: Wuyi Da Hong Pao
And then there’s me, Emeric: your humble human-to-tea transfigurator. I tend to think visually and expressively, but I have a strong sense of discipline. Much of my work sits at the intersection of experience, brand, and innovation…with a focus on hospitality, atmosphere, and feeling. I’m naturally drawn to storytelling and cultural context…and while I may seem reserved on the surface, I like to think I’ve inherited a healthy dose of Harney charisma (an introverted extrovert, if you will).
If I were a tea, I’d be an expressive and intentional brew…but one that’s meant to be lived with and appreciated over time. I can imagine myself being Wuyi Da Hong Pao. A medium-bodied oolong tea that grows high in China’s Wuyi Mountains, Da Hong Pao (meaning “big red robe”) is made with leaves that are roughly 40% oxidized, yielding a warm, rich flavor. With notes of peach compote and dark molasses persisting on the palate, each steep produces a slightly different evolution of flavor.
Evolving over time is definitely something I can relate to…and come to think of it, I might look pretty good in a big red robe.
No More Muse; No More Brews
Mercifully, I can feel my eyelids starting to grow heavy…but thanks for coming with me on this strange little insomniac odyssey. If nothing else, I hope this blog has expanded your knowledge of our Harney family, the everyday luxury offered by just a few of our affordable, high-quality teas, and why I may need an extra cup or two to keep my eyes open later today.
Until next time, I hope you’ll sleep well (and steep even better).
