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
tomoko igarashi
Please make 50 sachet bag of focus!!!
Please make 50 sachet bag of focus!!!
Donald Schoengold
A bit late in this thread but I would like to make a suggestion about packaging. You should clearly put the proper brewing temperature on each tin for the tea contained therein. You can find the information on your web site but it is a bit of a pain and some people may be unaware that different teas should be brewed at different temperatures.
A bit late in this thread but I would like to make a suggestion about packaging. You should clearly put the proper brewing temperature on each tin for the tea contained therein. You can find the information on your web site but it is a bit of a pain and some people may be unaware that different teas should be brewed at different temperatures.
Ashley Sabia
I am a big fan of your teas. But it is frustrating that the tag on the tea bags aren’t labeled as to what tea they are. My local place carries your tea but since the label doesn’t say which kind of tea it is I am unaware of if I got the wrong tea until I am sitting at my desk with the lid off. Sure I could blame the teenager making it, but they has enough to worry about. As the consumer I should be able to tell what tea I am given by looking at the bag ‘handle’. That is on the manufacturer/design team (you). Please do something about this.
I am a big fan of your teas. But it is frustrating that the tag on the tea bags aren’t labeled as to what tea they are. My local place carries your tea but since the label doesn’t say which kind of tea it is I am unaware of if I got the wrong tea until I am sitting at my desk with the lid off. Sure I could blame the teenager making it, but they has enough to worry about. As the consumer I should be able to tell what tea I am given by looking at the bag ‘handle’. That is on the manufacturer/design team (you). Please do something about this.
CANDY L DANIELS
I’m a new fan to your company, and I actually really enjoyed this article! Your teas are delicious and I love your beautiful tins. I’m very happy to hear your commitment to steadily making your packaging more environmentally friendly so we can all enjoy your amazing teas guilt free!
I’m a new fan to your company, and I actually really enjoyed this article! Your teas are delicious and I love your beautiful tins. I’m very happy to hear your commitment to steadily making your packaging more environmentally friendly so we can all enjoy your amazing teas guilt free!
Alisa L.
I’m thrilled to hear about the new, compostable sachets. Hot Cinnamon Spice is my favorite. I enjoy the ease of sachets but switched to loose because I was concerned about the waste. Looking forward to having the ease of dropping a sachet in my 4am cup!
I found H&S about 6 months ago and it’s the only tea I drink anymore. I currently have between 15-20 types! I’m head over heels for Bangkok and really am enjoying the 2021 New Year tea blend. Thanks so much for such a fantastic product!
I’m thrilled to hear about the new, compostable sachets. Hot Cinnamon Spice is my favorite. I enjoy the ease of sachets but switched to loose because I was concerned about the waste. Looking forward to having the ease of dropping a sachet in my 4am cup!
I found H&S about 6 months ago and it’s the only tea I drink anymore. I currently have between 15-20 types! I’m head over heels for Bangkok and really am enjoying the 2021 New Year tea blend. Thanks so much for such a fantastic product!
Sharon
I love your teas. I found them years ago at a little coffee shop. Sadly it went out of business and I had a hard time finding your teas. Recently I decided to look on the internet – epiphany – and there you were. So happy to have found that I can purchase your teas online and have them delivered right to my door. Thank you. I really did enjoy the info on teas and packaging. Much more interesting than bed tags. Thank you again.
I love your teas. I found them years ago at a little coffee shop. Sadly it went out of business and I had a hard time finding your teas. Recently I decided to look on the internet – epiphany – and there you were. So happy to have found that I can purchase your teas online and have them delivered right to my door. Thank you. I really did enjoy the info on teas and packaging. Much more interesting than bed tags. Thank you again.
Brenda Gerosa-Beal
Interesting article! Discovered your tea many many years ago while dining at Legal Seafood and have been hooked ever since! Love your teas, especially hot cinnamon spice, ginger licorice, and ginger turmeric. Decided to branch out and try Golden Milk…..amazing winter drink! We use almond milk, raw honey, organic molasses and a touch of cocoa powder. So much better than hot chocolate on a cold day!!!
Interesting article! Discovered your tea many many years ago while dining at Legal Seafood and have been hooked ever since! Love your teas, especially hot cinnamon spice, ginger licorice, and ginger turmeric. Decided to branch out and try Golden Milk…..amazing winter drink! We use almond milk, raw honey, organic molasses and a touch of cocoa powder. So much better than hot chocolate on a cold day!!!
Donna
Very interesting and enlightening article. Thank you for publishing it. I have been purchasing tea from you since 1995 or 1996. I love your wide selection of teas and the different forms you offer. I use both loose tea and tea bags. I have always liked your black and gold tins but the HRP tins are beautiful. The new round white tins are beautiful too. Keep up the great work!
Very interesting and enlightening article. Thank you for publishing it. I have been purchasing tea from you since 1995 or 1996. I love your wide selection of teas and the different forms you offer. I use both loose tea and tea bags. I have always liked your black and gold tins but the HRP tins are beautiful. The new round white tins are beautiful too. Keep up the great work!
Janice A park
Loved the piece on packaging differences, always wondered what they meant. Love my loose tea though reminds me of when I was a kid and my grandmother would buy loose tea from the Jewel tea company and give it to my Mom to use because we didn’t have much and with 5 kids and my Dad was a coal miner either on strike, layed off or he had gotten hurt in the mines, anything helped. My Mom was Scotch-Irish and my Dad was English and tea was the drink of choice in our house. Thank you for all of the wonderful teas to choose from not just plain old black tea .
Loved the piece on packaging differences, always wondered what they meant. Love my loose tea though reminds me of when I was a kid and my grandmother would buy loose tea from the Jewel tea company and give it to my Mom to use because we didn’t have much and with 5 kids and my Dad was a coal miner either on strike, layed off or he had gotten hurt in the mines, anything helped. My Mom was Scotch-Irish and my Dad was English and tea was the drink of choice in our house. Thank you for all of the wonderful teas to choose from not just plain old black tea .
Lilalma
Great story and fascinating history! Thanks so much for taking the time to put it together and share it. You have much to be proud of….and I LOVE your tea!!
Great story and fascinating history! Thanks so much for taking the time to put it together and share it. You have much to be proud of….and I LOVE your tea!!
Debbie
Have been enjoying your tea for a couple of years now. Started with the holiday blend and recently opened my cinnamon spice sachets. Very decadent packaging and my husband and I were talking about the recycling of the tea bags, so I found this blog informative. I am on a waitlist for when the regular tea bags for the cinnamon spice are back in stock. Wondering if the tea bags will offer as rich a flavor as the sachets?
Have been enjoying your tea for a couple of years now. Started with the holiday blend and recently opened my cinnamon spice sachets. Very decadent packaging and my husband and I were talking about the recycling of the tea bags, so I found this blog informative. I am on a waitlist for when the regular tea bags for the cinnamon spice are back in stock. Wondering if the tea bags will offer as rich a flavor as the sachets?
Margo McKee
Hi Mike. I enjoyed this blog! I loved seeing the photo of John; it brought a tear to my eye. I discovered Harney Teas decades ago when I’d drive up from Manhattan, pick up 2 friends in Ridgefield and continue on to Millerton where we’d devour your delicious sandwiches and teas. After lunch, we’d spend time tasting new teas and buying an insane amount of our favorites as well as our new discoveries. You, Paul and your dad were a delight to be with. And it’s wonderful that Emeric is now part of your business. You’re a tea dynasty! Now that you have a shop in NYC, I don’t make the trip to Millerton anymore. (I often wonder if you ever got around to putting a hook on the bathroom door so we could hang up our handbag. I know I bugged you every time I mentioned it.) Since I moved further uptown, I’ve been ordering my teas online for delivery. But I want to come down as soon as it’s safe again, so I can sample some of your new teas. Meanwhile, stay well and I hope to see you soon. Sending love and best wishes to you all.
Hi Mike. I enjoyed this blog! I loved seeing the photo of John; it brought a tear to my eye. I discovered Harney Teas decades ago when I’d drive up from Manhattan, pick up 2 friends in Ridgefield and continue on to Millerton where we’d devour your delicious sandwiches and teas. After lunch, we’d spend time tasting new teas and buying an insane amount of our favorites as well as our new discoveries. You, Paul and your dad were a delight to be with. And it’s wonderful that Emeric is now part of your business. You’re a tea dynasty! Now that you have a shop in NYC, I don’t make the trip to Millerton anymore. (I often wonder if you ever got around to putting a hook on the bathroom door so we could hang up our handbag. I know I bugged you every time I mentioned it.) Since I moved further uptown, I’ve been ordering my teas online for delivery. But I want to come down as soon as it’s safe again, so I can sample some of your new teas. Meanwhile, stay well and I hope to see you soon. Sending love and best wishes to you all.
Marisa
Good read but doesn’t explain why you don’t offer loose leaf refills for your beautiful tea tins like Little Women Orchard House. The whole point of beautiful tin is wanting to keep using it but you don’t offer refills.
Good read but doesn’t explain why you don’t offer loose leaf refills for your beautiful tea tins like Little Women Orchard House. The whole point of beautiful tin is wanting to keep using it but you don’t offer refills.
Gary Patterson
While tea is ancient, Harney and Sons is alive in the present. We employ all your options on a daily basis. White peach sachets allow us to make our last pot of tea without the extra effort of loading an infuser and disposing of the leaves later. (50 sachet bags are the answer). Some great teas are inexpensive enough to drink every day, but the leaves are larger and would not work well with a tea bag machine. Harney and Sons Mutan White is as good as it gets for this variety. We buy it by the pound, and then dole it out into our black tin as needed. Some teas are rare and expensive. We often drink one such tea per day. A single black tin might last a whole year. First flush Darjeeling, Golden Assam, Himalayan Gold, Silver Needle all fall into this class. Lots of teas; one great purveyor!
While tea is ancient, Harney and Sons is alive in the present. We employ all your options on a daily basis. White peach sachets allow us to make our last pot of tea without the extra effort of loading an infuser and disposing of the leaves later. (50 sachet bags are the answer). Some great teas are inexpensive enough to drink every day, but the leaves are larger and would not work well with a tea bag machine. Harney and Sons Mutan White is as good as it gets for this variety. We buy it by the pound, and then dole it out into our black tin as needed. Some teas are rare and expensive. We often drink one such tea per day. A single black tin might last a whole year. First flush Darjeeling, Golden Assam, Himalayan Gold, Silver Needle all fall into this class. Lots of teas; one great purveyor!
Sylvia Pina
Love your teas , have been drinking for a while, so interesting to know all about them, and the travels you have made to bring out new flavors, love the tins and the stories behind them
Love your teas , have been drinking for a while, so interesting to know all about them, and the travels you have made to bring out new flavors, love the tins and the stories behind them
Donna Sterlace
I have been a decades long fan of your tea! When I used to order your teas from the paper catalog, I always learned about new teas and the different regions they came from. Thank you for your quality teas! Your flavors are consistent and that is very important to me.
I have been a decades long fan of your tea! When I used to order your teas from the paper catalog, I always learned about new teas and the different regions they came from. Thank you for your quality teas! Your flavors are consistent and that is very important to me.
Abigail C
This was a really interesting read! I’ve always loved the look of the tins, and the Harney logo. I would love to see more of the sachet teas being offered in the 50-pack bulk bags so we could refill our tins (two particular ones I would love to see are Ambessa Safari and SoHo, plus the Royal Palaces teas).
This was a really interesting read! I’ve always loved the look of the tins, and the Harney logo. I would love to see more of the sachet teas being offered in the 50-pack bulk bags so we could refill our tins (two particular ones I would love to see are Ambessa Safari and SoHo, plus the Royal Palaces teas).
Dee
You’re right! Much more interesting than the mattress tag. Would like to have read ever more, like why the color choices and are you ever going to bring in larger tins for those 50 sachet bulk buys? Love the black and gold tins, love the others as much, (maybe more because the colors and designs are so pretty and tempting.) Am personally running out of space to contain all my tins, and I do recycle them, (my Earl Grey Supreme is seldom empty!). So many teas to taste, so little time…….! (Latest favs, Celebration and Chinese New Year when I’m not drinking Dragon Pearl Jasmine or Earl Grey!)
You’re right! Much more interesting than the mattress tag. Would like to have read ever more, like why the color choices and are you ever going to bring in larger tins for those 50 sachet bulk buys? Love the black and gold tins, love the others as much, (maybe more because the colors and designs are so pretty and tempting.) Am personally running out of space to contain all my tins, and I do recycle them, (my Earl Grey Supreme is seldom empty!). So many teas to taste, so little time…….! (Latest favs, Celebration and Chinese New Year when I’m not drinking Dragon Pearl Jasmine or Earl Grey!)
Michelle Santucci
Much more interesting than a mattress label! Long time fan here who is very excited to be one of your first to try the new plant friendly sachets. Thank you for exploring and investing in the newer technology. I’ll feel even better when I enjoy your teas.
Much more interesting than a mattress label! Long time fan here who is very excited to be one of your first to try the new plant friendly sachets. Thank you for exploring and investing in the newer technology. I’ll feel even better when I enjoy your teas.
Kim Reed
Finally! Now I know why some of favorites come in loose tea only! Yes I’ve always wondered. Thank you for the interesting read on packaging. I became a fan when my neighbor invited me over for a bite to eat. She served your Florence tea with breakfast. I was a coffee drinker until that morning. That was about 8 months ago. I am proud to share that I am now a tea drinker of Harney and Sons fine teas! I order on line regularly and share with coworkers and friends. AND I can get Paris tea “to go” anytime at Dutch Bros!! Thank you for making the best tea on the planet!! Kim
Finally! Now I know why some of favorites come in loose tea only! Yes I’ve always wondered. Thank you for the interesting read on packaging. I became a fan when my neighbor invited me over for a bite to eat. She served your Florence tea with breakfast. I was a coffee drinker until that morning. That was about 8 months ago. I am proud to share that I am now a tea drinker of Harney and Sons fine teas! I order on line regularly and share with coworkers and friends. AND I can get Paris tea “to go” anytime at Dutch Bros!! Thank you for making the best tea on the planet!! Kim
Devon Hernandez
So happy to hear about the new compostable sachets coming soon when covid lets up! Loved hearing the history of the packaging tins.
So happy to hear about the new compostable sachets coming soon when covid lets up! Loved hearing the history of the packaging tins.
Jette
One more comment: I do wish that the lids on the tins fit better into the bottoms of the tins, ie. the tins just don’t stack very well on top of each other. For those of us who keep our tins out on the kitchen counter and have LOTS of tins because we like LOTS of different kinds of teas, it’d be wonderful if the tins could stack on top of each other without toppling down.
One more comment: I do wish that the lids on the tins fit better into the bottoms of the tins, ie. the tins just don’t stack very well on top of each other. For those of us who keep our tins out on the kitchen counter and have LOTS of tins because we like LOTS of different kinds of teas, it’d be wonderful if the tins could stack on top of each other without toppling down.
Jette
Super interesting. Will definitely check out the blog of what to do with all the extra tins. Not quite in agreement that my mattress does not have a story. The label doesn’t. It’s dumb as a doorpost, but the mattress, oh my!
Super interesting. Will definitely check out the blog of what to do with all the extra tins. Not quite in agreement that my mattress does not have a story. The label doesn’t. It’s dumb as a doorpost, but the mattress, oh my!
Mary Huettl
Enjoyed the informative article. Have enjoyed your teas for years! Found them first at Barnes & Noble bookstore, then started ordering other varieties on line. I usually get the 50 count bags but also try some in smaller quantities and also loose tea. Great tea!
Enjoyed the informative article. Have enjoyed your teas for years! Found them first at Barnes & Noble bookstore, then started ordering other varieties on line. I usually get the 50 count bags but also try some in smaller quantities and also loose tea. Great tea!
Carol Schweitzer
Great article. I am interested in all things tea. I have been ordering Harney Teas for well over ten years, when a student at the university where I worked recommended it as the best. She was right and that’s when I started drinking loose tea and have now become a tea snob. Lots of tins around me now!
Great article. I am interested in all things tea. I have been ordering Harney Teas for well over ten years, when a student at the university where I worked recommended it as the best. She was right and that’s when I started drinking loose tea and have now become a tea snob. Lots of tins around me now!
Todd Gaston
Thanks for sharing this interesting trivia. I have often wondered. I assumed it was a marketing thing. However, I’m normally not one that likes companies to start down the rabbit whole of all the marketing ploys. Stay true to your roots and focus on making great tea. That’s the best savings for the environment and saves all the various shapes snd sizes and colors of the tins, etc. However, I must confess that my favorite tins are the HRP tins. They stack perfectly in my tea cabinet and allow me visibility of what I have to chose from every time I take tea. I think I currently have every one of them. I don’t like the rounds with the rounded tops, as they don’t stack. The traditional black and gold is very classic and clean and will never go out of style. For cabinets, square and stackable are best. But Harney is the only tea for me. Not just because I like you tea though….but because I like the values, ethics and legacy that your company built upon. Environmental friendly and organic, chemical free teas and packaging will always win out for me.
Thanks for sharing this interesting trivia. I have often wondered. I assumed it was a marketing thing. However, I’m normally not one that likes companies to start down the rabbit whole of all the marketing ploys. Stay true to your roots and focus on making great tea. That’s the best savings for the environment and saves all the various shapes snd sizes and colors of the tins, etc. However, I must confess that my favorite tins are the HRP tins. They stack perfectly in my tea cabinet and allow me visibility of what I have to chose from every time I take tea. I think I currently have every one of them. I don’t like the rounds with the rounded tops, as they don’t stack. The traditional black and gold is very classic and clean and will never go out of style. For cabinets, square and stackable are best. But Harney is the only tea for me. Not just because I like you tea though….but because I like the values, ethics and legacy that your company built upon. Environmental friendly and organic, chemical free teas and packaging will always win out for me.
Barbara
VERY interesting and informative. I discovered your tea during a foray into a bookstore, and purchased a beautiful tin of loose tea for a friend’s birthday. I was very surprised to learn that she already used H & S teas, and they quickly became mine. Your Paris blend is my all time favorite, and whenever it’s on sale I stock up. I also use it in the summer to steep te for ice teas. I do it the old-fashioned way, out in the sun, and it tastes just like my momma’s southern (forgive me, I sweeten it), and it takes me right back to childhood memories.
VERY interesting and informative. I discovered your tea during a foray into a bookstore, and purchased a beautiful tin of loose tea for a friend’s birthday. I was very surprised to learn that she already used H & S teas, and they quickly became mine. Your Paris blend is my all time favorite, and whenever it’s on sale I stock up. I also use it in the summer to steep te for ice teas. I do it the old-fashioned way, out in the sun, and it tastes just like my momma’s southern (forgive me, I sweeten it), and it takes me right back to childhood memories.
Ronda Tedder
Great article, I love your tea, love the traditional black and gold! The tins reflect a sense of elegance and tradition.
Great article, I love your tea, love the traditional black and gold! The tins reflect a sense of elegance and tradition.
Peggy
excellent blog, it answered my curiosity about your different packaging. It makes sense to start new blends as loose tea to check their popularity rather than being stuck with an overproduction run of sachets/teabags that might go stale. I definitely re-use the tins.
I ‘m glad I found Harney & Sons..
excellent blog, it answered my curiosity about your different packaging. It makes sense to start new blends as loose tea to check their popularity rather than being stuck with an overproduction run of sachets/teabags that might go stale. I definitely re-use the tins.
I ‘m glad I found Harney & Sons..
Randolph Pfaff
Thanks for this post. It’s always fascinating (to me, at least) to hear about the design thinking behind packaging choices. I’m excited as well for the compostable sachets. I love your tea and appreciate your commitment to making more sustainable choices.
Thanks for this post. It’s always fascinating (to me, at least) to hear about the design thinking behind packaging choices. I’m excited as well for the compostable sachets. I love your tea and appreciate your commitment to making more sustainable choices.
Melanie Jones
I have been a huge fan of Harney tea since I was brought the tea chest at a fine restaurant and shown the only green they had, Japanese Sencha. I have been ordering ever since, mostly greens and whites, my favorite being Bangkok! It makes me happy happy happy!!
Someday I would like to make a Hudson Valley trip and visit your flag ship store!!
I have been a huge fan of Harney tea since I was brought the tea chest at a fine restaurant and shown the only green they had, Japanese Sencha. I have been ordering ever since, mostly greens and whites, my favorite being Bangkok! It makes me happy happy happy!!
Someday I would like to make a Hudson Valley trip and visit your flag ship store!!
Linda
Very interesting article. Your efforts to eliminate plastic is commendable. Your teas are outstanding!
Very interesting article. Your efforts to eliminate plastic is commendable. Your teas are outstanding!
Patricia Edwards
I’m with orchidhunter. I refrained from buying sachets because of their negative effect on our planet, but look forward to trying the new, compostable sachets. I use loose tea, but would like the convenience of sachets when I travel. Being a Harney Tea snob, I carry it wherever I go!
I’m with orchidhunter. I refrained from buying sachets because of their negative effect on our planet, but look forward to trying the new, compostable sachets. I use loose tea, but would like the convenience of sachets when I travel. Being a Harney Tea snob, I carry it wherever I go!
Debbie S.
I love Harney tea and the different options of packaging to suit everyone’s needs. I have purchased loose in tins, sachets in tins, refill bags, iced tea pouches in tins and refill bags of iced tea pouches as well as individually wrapped all for different reasons and uses. I love the sachet option because it is great quality tea a full leaf loose tea quality in convenient sachets, I look forward to them becoming compostable. It is nice to include a quality loose leaf individually wrapped sachet in a letter or small gift pack or for traveling (your travel tins are nice too). The only thing I do not purchase here is the tea bag since I don’t care for tea ‘dust’. I do love the refill sachet bags for refilling my tins. I rotate them in my Harney tea rack. Can’t wait until you get the large tea racks back in stock. Also I am still hoping you start to offer Blueberry Green sachets in a refill bag of 50….please?
I love Harney tea and the different options of packaging to suit everyone’s needs. I have purchased loose in tins, sachets in tins, refill bags, iced tea pouches in tins and refill bags of iced tea pouches as well as individually wrapped all for different reasons and uses. I love the sachet option because it is great quality tea a full leaf loose tea quality in convenient sachets, I look forward to them becoming compostable. It is nice to include a quality loose leaf individually wrapped sachet in a letter or small gift pack or for traveling (your travel tins are nice too). The only thing I do not purchase here is the tea bag since I don’t care for tea ‘dust’. I do love the refill sachet bags for refilling my tins. I rotate them in my Harney tea rack. Can’t wait until you get the large tea racks back in stock. Also I am still hoping you start to offer Blueberry Green sachets in a refill bag of 50….please?
Linda Sue
Can you tell me why you no longer include the name of the tea on the tags? I like to put several in my tea canister or a variety of teas on a plate for visitors. Makes it difficult to tell the varieties apart. I have also noticed that some tags do not even have the Harney name printed on them any more and fall off the string when used Just curious. Thank you.
Can you tell me why you no longer include the name of the tea on the tags? I like to put several in my tea canister or a variety of teas on a plate for visitors. Makes it difficult to tell the varieties apart. I have also noticed that some tags do not even have the Harney name printed on them any more and fall off the string when used Just curious. Thank you.
Frank-Gavin Moratalla
This was a fascinating look into the answers to some questions I had! I really used to rely on my local Starbucks for my London Fogs and then the pandemic hit and had to rely on myself for that and now with Harney’s Victorian London Fog tea blend I can’t imagine ever going back to Starbucks ever again!
This was a fascinating look into the answers to some questions I had! I really used to rely on my local Starbucks for my London Fogs and then the pandemic hit and had to rely on myself for that and now with Harney’s Victorian London Fog tea blend I can’t imagine ever going back to Starbucks ever again!
Lynn Ruef
So glad that you will no longer use the nylon sachets.
So glad that you will no longer use the nylon sachets.
Michele McNeill
Why is the Golden Milk and some other teas are not in a leaf form?? Yet you have Ginger & Turmeric tea in a leaf fore?? What is the real difference between the two of them?(Golden Milk and Ginger/Turmeric)
Maybe I made a mistake and purchased the wrong teaGolden Milk has the same ingredients
Please I would really like to know what the difference is and how to use the Golden Milk!!! I do not know how to claim the best benefit from the Golden Milk. Thank you Michele McNeill 909483-7386
It would be nice, if one of the Harney Clan contacted me by phone.
Why is the Golden Milk and some other teas are not in a leaf form?? Yet you have Ginger & Turmeric tea in a leaf fore?? What is the real difference between the two of them?(Golden Milk and Ginger/Turmeric)
Maybe I made a mistake and purchased the wrong teaGolden Milk has the same ingredients
Please I would really like to know what the difference is and how to use the Golden Milk!!! I do not know how to claim the best benefit from the Golden Milk. Thank you Michele McNeill 909483-7386
It would be nice, if one of the Harney Clan contacted me by phone.
mary-kathleen
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your Chocolate tea! HOWEVER, I have about 100 of your tins! PLEASE make the sachets available in 50 count packages!!
PS. Yes, I know that loose tea is available in the package BUT I like the sachets!!!!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your Chocolate tea! HOWEVER, I have about 100 of your tins! PLEASE make the sachets available in 50 count packages!!
PS. Yes, I know that loose tea is available in the package BUT I like the sachets!!!!
Jackie Thamm
I love your teas & found your article interesting. On my counter I have an 8 tin holder with my favorite H&S teas. I am very happy to hear about the proposed change in your sachets. I have been cutting off the top of my old sachets & pouring the tea into a tin because I have been worried about nylon leaching into the tea. Thanks for your teas.
I love your teas & found your article interesting. On my counter I have an 8 tin holder with my favorite H&S teas. I am very happy to hear about the proposed change in your sachets. I have been cutting off the top of my old sachets & pouring the tea into a tin because I have been worried about nylon leaching into the tea. Thanks for your teas.
Taffy
Fantastic! I had always wondered about the differences in packaging. Personally I don’t care for sachets, I like loose tea (unless traveling). It’s so nice that you often offer both though. I just love your tins, I never throw them out. I use them to store my contacts separately by eye, batteries, sugar, desk organizers, etc.
Fantastic! I had always wondered about the differences in packaging. Personally I don’t care for sachets, I like loose tea (unless traveling). It’s so nice that you often offer both though. I just love your tins, I never throw them out. I use them to store my contacts separately by eye, batteries, sugar, desk organizers, etc.
Berclee Cameron
Great little run-down of your creative responses to life’s challenges!
No need to post: I’ve been meaning to drop you a note re the change in packaging of my beloved iced tea bags (15 count in large bag). I liked the look of the black&gold bag and it was easy to open. Opening the blue bag for the first time requires scissors to snip off the trailing top. Yup, this is quibbling over spilled tea. There’s no danger of giving up the pleasure of your gifts—for me or my guests. Thanks so much!
Great little run-down of your creative responses to life’s challenges!
No need to post: I’ve been meaning to drop you a note re the change in packaging of my beloved iced tea bags (15 count in large bag). I liked the look of the black&gold bag and it was easy to open. Opening the blue bag for the first time requires scissors to snip off the trailing top. Yup, this is quibbling over spilled tea. There’s no danger of giving up the pleasure of your gifts—for me or my guests. Thanks so much!
Mark
So Mike, I have asked this before and Harney has never responded, why don’t you sell 1/2 bag refills? I love your teas, but don’t always want to commit to purchasing a full pound, yet I have so many tins and they seem wasteful in terms of shipping weight and cost. Some of your competitors sell tea 1/2lbs in biodegradable paper bags, is there a reason you dont sell smaller bags?.
So Mike, I have asked this before and Harney has never responded, why don’t you sell 1/2 bag refills? I love your teas, but don’t always want to commit to purchasing a full pound, yet I have so many tins and they seem wasteful in terms of shipping weight and cost. Some of your competitors sell tea 1/2lbs in biodegradable paper bags, is there a reason you dont sell smaller bags?.
Brandi Glenn
That was a good read! and now I know the story behind it. I remember when it was just the black and gold tins.I like that I know whats what by color now though!
That was a good read! and now I know the story behind it. I remember when it was just the black and gold tins.I like that I know whats what by color now though!
Sarah
Ooh! One more comment I would like to suggest is a tin return refill program! There are other companies trying this (no tea companies yet) and it seems highly successful and more sustainable than buying up more of the same tins or buying bulk in plastic bags that end up in landfills/oceans.
Thank you!
Ooh! One more comment I would like to suggest is a tin return refill program! There are other companies trying this (no tea companies yet) and it seems highly successful and more sustainable than buying up more of the same tins or buying bulk in plastic bags that end up in landfills/oceans.
Thank you!
Sarah
Wow, I have to say that I am more impressed with H&S than before! I have been transitioning from H&S to more sustainable, smaller tea brands that are completely compostable, organic, use renewable energy, etc. but now that Harney is working on that, I am happy to stay ☺️
I don’t think I have had a better English Breakfast elsewhere tbh…
Wow, I have to say that I am more impressed with H&S than before! I have been transitioning from H&S to more sustainable, smaller tea brands that are completely compostable, organic, use renewable energy, etc. but now that Harney is working on that, I am happy to stay ☺️
I don’t think I have had a better English Breakfast elsewhere tbh…
Tom Parrett
Ate you still using the designer Ed Piechock? If not, who is your design firm? Surely you have won design awards. Your package design is a big part of your appeal. In a way, it is your brand — that and your delicious tea, of course, which pays off the lovely graphic design. A perfect marriage of product and presentation, possibly none better. Congratulations.
Ate you still using the designer Ed Piechock? If not, who is your design firm? Surely you have won design awards. Your package design is a big part of your appeal. In a way, it is your brand — that and your delicious tea, of course, which pays off the lovely graphic design. A perfect marriage of product and presentation, possibly none better. Congratulations.
Jean Harris
Loved reading the history of your packaging. Having enjoyed Harney & Sons teas for years I am grateful to be able to order online now that we moved from Dutchess County, NY to Murrells Inlet, SC. Just wondering if you will be increasing production of caffeine free teas?
Loved reading the history of your packaging. Having enjoyed Harney & Sons teas for years I am grateful to be able to order online now that we moved from Dutchess County, NY to Murrells Inlet, SC. Just wondering if you will be increasing production of caffeine free teas?
Sharon
Are your tins recyclable? Although they are pretty, I have no use for them. It’s such a waste to keep receiving these tins with every order.
Are your tins recyclable? Although they are pretty, I have no use for them. It’s such a waste to keep receiving these tins with every order.
Fran T
I love the tins. So many uses and yes, it keeps the tea fresher. I was in a bit of a panic when I began running low on Harney & Sons tea. I simply can’t drink other teas. Oh, a little dramatic, and I can drink other teas if I must. I just can’t find any quite like their tea…Yummy. I like that a sample is also included with the shipment. Great way to get hooked on other tea flavors.
I love the tins. So many uses and yes, it keeps the tea fresher. I was in a bit of a panic when I began running low on Harney & Sons tea. I simply can’t drink other teas. Oh, a little dramatic, and I can drink other teas if I must. I just can’t find any quite like their tea…Yummy. I like that a sample is also included with the shipment. Great way to get hooked on other tea flavors.