We found a very special lot ( only 2 kilos) of Wild black tea from mountains of central Hunan. It tasted so sweet and smooth, that we had to see where it came from. My tasting buddy, Elvira Cardenas, is seen here plucking some tea leaves from wild plants from the middle of the forest.

[Note: an earlier version of this post ran in the fall of 2018. Feel free to enjoy this updated version with a couple new teas added or enjoy it for the first time. Cheers!]

During the winter months, you can often find us snuggled up watching our favorite shows or reading a new book with a warm cup of tea in hand. Tea hits the spot on a cold winter’s day, and we’re not the only ones who think so. We recently received word that the Big Guy prefers hot tea to cold milk when he slides down your chimney on Christmas Eve. Don’t believe us? Check out our video below for further proof. To help you prep for Father Christmas and Old Man Winter’s arrival, we’ve rounded up our favorite teas to get you through another long, cold winter.

Hot Cinnamon Spice

What winter-tea roundup would be complete without a mention of our most popular tea,  Hot Cinnamon Spice. This classic tea combines three types of cinnamon, orange peel and sweet cloves to create one sweet cup (with no added sugar!). It’s the perfect cup for those nights you find yourself craving the leftover holiday sweets. Skip the calories and sugar and sip on this instead!

Chocolate Chai Supreme

Our  Chocolate Chai Supreme tea is a newbie, but has instantly become a fan favorite. This delicious tea combines the flavors of a classic chai with rich chocolate and vanilla. When we created this tea we began with a base of blended Chinese and Indian black teas, then added all the necessities for a delicious chai—ginger root, cardamom seeds and pods, cinnamon (ground and in chips) and nutmeg. Finally, we swirled in natural chocolate, cardamom and vanilla flavor through the blend, creating a one-of-a-kind tea experience you won’t soon forget.

Holiday Tea

Spiced with citrus, almond, clove and cinnamon, our  Holiday Tea has become a year-round favorite black tea. Delicious hot or iced, it's a wonderful addition to a holiday table, served piping hot on a cold winter morning or anytime you crave a holiday-inspired brew. The best part? Once you drink all of your Holiday Tea you can turn the festive red tin into a winter centerpiece or pour wax into it to make a candle.

White Christmas Tea

Just like the holidays can sometimes be, this tea is slightly nutty with a hint of sweetness. Made with white tea, almonds, vanilla and cardamom accented with white chamomile flowers,  White Christmas Tea means you can have a white Christmas any time you want.

Peppermint Herbal

Our marvelously brisk  Peppermint Herbal comes from Oregon and produces a wonderfully aromatic and crisp tasting tisane. We love serving after a big dinner while everyone relaxes or drinking this in the evening to wind down after a long day. If you’re like us and have a tendency to overindulge over the holidays, you’ll love drinking our Peppermint Herbal as it can also get a pesky stomach under control in no time.

Celebration Tea

Our  Celebration Tea captures the magic of the seasons. Based on traditional English flavors, this irresistible blend of black tea, apricot, hazelnut, cinnamon and beautiful cornflowers is perfect for gatherings of friends and family. The cool blue tin is spattered with white snowflakes and makes an easy present for any holiday celebration. John Harney used to recommend that tea drinkers "savor this limited edition tea anytime of the day or gift it to someone they love."

Soho Blend

Speaking of celebrations… created to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the opening of our Soho store,  Soho Blend is like having a macaroon in a cup. A black tea with chocolate, coconut, vanilla and amaranth petals, a cuppa this will melt away any winter chill.

Winter White Earl Grey

A perennial favorite, our  Winter White Earl Grey gives an evergreen classic a deliciously light twist. Beautiful Chinese Mutan White tea forms the base of this blend, providing light floral elements and a delicately grassy note. Natural lemony bergamot oil gives deep, multifaceted citrus qualities to the blend. We recommend making yourself a cup of this whenever you wish to sip on something a little out of the ordinary.

Chocolate Mint

Chocolate Mint is a tasty Chinese black tea with a divine aroma of peppermint leaves and natural chocolate flavor. Subtle yet sweet, try it and you’ll recall the winter days you spent drinking hot cocoa with your parents after a day of playing in the snow. Don’t worry though, this “hot chocolate” isn’t full of calories or high in sugar. Drink it as an after-dinner tea and you won’t be disappointed.

Stock your cabinet with any of these winter essentials and you’re sure to please anyone who stops by over the holidays - friends, family, Santa Claus and even the Grinch! 

Saturday we spent the whole day with Jane Pettigrew. We have worked with Jane for more than 20 years. Jane now runs the UK Tea Academy. All of us had great fun and learnt about tea.  

Jane is the spunky one with red hair in the middle. She charmed us. 

How did Women’s History Month come to be?

What started as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California for one week in the late 1970s, later turned into a recognized movement across the country. This led to alliances and groups coming together to express their passion and tell stories of feminine leaders. On March 8th, 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation of support for National Women’s History Week. The step to make the occasion the entirety of the month was in effect in 1987. 

The National Women’s History Alliance selects a theme when March comes around. 2020 marks the focus of “Valiant Women of the Vote”. The honorees, both past and present, have assisted in the advancement of the women's right to vote. There was a time when the privilege was considered impossible, as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Burns, and Carrie Chapman Catt (to name a few) organized many of the first rights conventions in the late 1800s. This would lead to countless efforts of women’s suffrage movements to make their voices heard and fight for the agency to vote. 

Women's History Month 2020:

The current honorees, Maria Teresa Kumar (CEO of Voto Latino), Eleanor Holms Norton (Civil Rights Leader/Congressperson/ Lawyer), Terry Ao Minnis (Senior Director of the Census and Voting Programs) and Edith Mayo (Suffrage Historian) keep the legacy alive. They remind us of something as powerful as the right to vote was denied to women for too long. 

Celebrate the Women of Harney & Sons:

From product and creative design to operations and business development, there are so many women whose contributions and talents make an impact in our company. We chose to honor a few of them with their own custom blend! 

Brigitte’s Blend:

Brigitte is the wife of Mike Harney and the mother of three Harney grandchildren. Brigitte is kind and thoughtful, with a keen sense of style and flair. Her insight and expertise in the world of retail are essential tools in the business, especially at the tea shop in Millerton. 

The  blend  crafted for her is a gracious mix of Ceylon and golden Assam. The flavors are combined in this tea to make for an extraordinary cup.

Elyse’s Blend:

We’ve created this  blend  to honor the matriarch of the Harney family and her daughter, both named Elyse. The mixture of Tippy Assam and Kenyan teas with Ceylon results in a smooth, toasty tea with notes of honey.

 

Jane’s Garden Tea:

This  blend  is in remembrance of Jane Lloyd, a lifelong friend of the Harney family and avid gardener. A green tea brew with pomegranate and roses, this tea is sweet and soothing. It promotes the idea of growth and renewal, such as how a garden inspires tranquility. One dollar of the proceeds from the sale of Jane's Garden blend will be shared by the Jane Lloyd Fund and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Little Women Orchard House Blend:

In Louisa May Alcott’s classic, charming novel,  Little Women, the March sisters teach us a thing or two about love, life, and the bond of family, as they ascend into adulthood. This  blend  honors the Orchard House, a foundation named after the setting in Concord, MA, where Louisa May began to write her story. The bright notes of apples and honey with cornflowers decorate a traditional green tea. 

 

Sally’s Secret:

One of the first tea-blenders in the Harney company, Sally was a wonderful member of our community. She was a good friend to all and shared a love of all things pink! 

We dedicated this  blend  to her, which consists of Earl Grey and rosebuds. The citrus and rosy scent is a delightful detail in this cup.  

In addition, we have met amazing, intelligent women who thrive in different careers and hobbies and advocate for resilience in their field. They’re also fans of tea, which we love, and consider it to be a great companion as they succeed in many projects. Take a look at a few  stories  here in our Teafluencer series. 

 

So, thank you to all the women who persevere and demonstrate courage, whether in their work or lifestyle. Female leaders of the past and present help pave the way in our community and beyond! 

Yasmin Williams

Acoustic Guitarist & Composer

Alright, folks. Put away everything you thought you knew about acoustic guitars and get ready to have your mind expanded by our October Teafluencer, Yasmin Williams. We’ve got lap tapping, guitars made of wood with holes made by mollusks, harp guitars, tap shoes and a whole lot more that goes into making up this talented artist’s unique performances. From her Guitar Hero 2 inspiration as a girl to a performance at The Ryman Auditorium, we think the sky's the limit for this 25-year-old artist. Good thing she keeps tea at the ready to fuel all this talent!

Harney: Tell us a little about you. Where are you from, educational background, where you live, family, etc.

Yasmin: Hey y’all! I’m Yasmin, a 25-year-old guitarist and composer. I’m from northern Virginia and am currently based there (specifically in Alexandria, VA), along with most of my immediate family. I went to high school in Woodbridge, VA and was in a performing arts program. I got my Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Composition from New York University.

Harney: How did you get interested in playing guitar? How old were you?

Yasmin: When I was around 11 years old, I got interested in playing guitar after I beat the video game Guitar Hero 2 on expert level! I played the game almost every day after school, and I was 12 when I got my first electric guitar. Prior to this, I played clarinet in my school’s band and sang in my school’s choir. 

Harney: Why did you choose to make acoustic guitar your focus?

Yasmin: After playing electric guitar for around two years, I learned how to play “Blackbird” by The Beatles. That was the first fingerstyle guitar song I learned and after learning it, I realized how much I enjoyed playing fingerstyle guitar rather than the hard-rock style I was playing on electric guitar. I also started writing my own songs a lot once I started playing acoustic guitar, which is what I really wanted to do. Acoustic guitar opened up a new world for me in terms of composing my own tunes and developing my musical voice. It was also just more fun for me at the time since I was getting tired of playing covers and wanted to try something new on guitar.

Harney: Do you play any other instruments?

Yasmin: Yes! I played clarinet for around 13 years, starting in 4th grade and playing until I finished college. I stopped playing to focus on guitar and other instruments, but I do want to pick it back up at some point. I also play the kora, kalimba, some hand and frame drums, and a bit of the banjo and the piano. I love learning how to play new instruments!

Harney: Let’s talk about the harp guitar -- it’s really cool! What drew you to that instrument, and how difficult is it to play?

Yasmin: Yeah, the harp guitar is a very neat instrument. I first saw one at the 2020 Winter NAMM Show (National Association of Music Merchants), a large music conference that showcases new music technologies, instruments, gear, etc. every year. I played a harp guitar at NAMM and immediately ordered one when I returned home. My harp guitar is a parlor size guitar, so it’s smaller and more manageable to play. It’s made by Timberline Guitars, who are one of maybe two companies that make stock harp guitars. I really enjoy playing it, as the extra bass strings add a new dimension to the guitar in general and give me more options. I recently put out a new single on Amazon Music featuring the harp guitar, called   Virga.

Harney: We’re fascinated by how you play your guitar on your lap. How did you develop that style?

Yasmin: I developed this lap-tapping style myself! Although there are some other guitarists who play in this style, I wasn’t aware of this when I was coming up with it when I was around 15 years old. I actually got the idea to lap tap from playing Guitar Hero 2. The game requires you to tap buttons on a controller, and I really liked the tapping motion required to play the game. I wanted to figure out how to incorporate that in my own guitar playing, and I eventually discovered lap tapping helps me do that the best. It also allows me to do more with the guitar in terms of adding percussive elements to my songs, using various tools to achieve different sounds, and just being more fun in general!

Harney: You have several instruments on stage with you when you perform, and you incorporate some interesting tools like cello bows, tap shoes and a kalimba into your performances. What can someone expect from a typical Yasmin Williams performance?

Yasmin: This can vary depending on whether I have to fly out to a show or whether I can drive there. If I have to fly, I’ll bring just one guitar with me, my two kalimbas, tap shoes and the other tools I use. I usually play all original songs in my shows (except for maybe one cover), and you can expect some lap tapping, foot stomping, cello bowing, hammering and other fun things. For shows I can drive to, I usually bring two or three guitars (my main guitar, my harp guitar and my 12-string Gryphon) to give myself more options. Sometimes I even bring my kora to play! 

Harney: When asked by a concertgoer what your guitar was made of, you replied “spalted tamarind -- it’s actually a fungus.” Please, tell us more! (And something tells us you’d like our tea made with chaga mushrooms!)

Yasmin: My guitar is basically made out of an assortment of driftwoods. The back and sides are made out of spalted tamarind; spalted wood is just any wood that has started to rot or decay from a fungus. That’s why it looks so cool! The top of my guitar is made out of Teredo Holed Sitka Spruce, which is wood that mollusks burrowed into several years ago and created small holes in. So, the holes in my guitar top are natural! My guitar also features other woods like Bloodwood, Ebony and Mahogany. I like to call my guitar “functional art.” It was made by Eric Weigeshoff of Skytop Guitars. Definitely check out his work if you love handmade, high-quality acoustic guitars!

Harney: You’ve gotten a lot of media attention for such a young performer, with write-ups in such notable publications as   The New York Times,   The Washington Post,   Rolling Stone, NPR Music and more, as well as appearances on several radio and TV shows.   Guitar World Magazine named you one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world right now. We know this may be hard for you to answer yourself, but what do you think has made your music stand out so much, other than the fact that it is unique and beautiful?

Yasmin: I think my music stands out because it’s calming to listen to yet complex enough to hold a listener’s interest. You can listen to my music in multiple settings/situations: from working or studying at home to hosting a dinner party with friends to actively listening while hiking or whatever! I take a lot of time and care with my music, and I think that comes through in the songs on both of my albums, especially my second album   Urban Driftwood. I also use the music I grew up with, such as hip hop, R&B, etc., to create more compelling tunes, which isn’t too common in the guitar world.

Harney: You also played this year in the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. How was that experience? What’s your favorite place you’ve played so far, and why?

Yasmin: Playing at the Ryman was incredible! I opened for the band Watchhouse (formerly known as Mandolin Orange). The sound in that room is second to none, and the crowd was electric and amazing. I definitely want to play there again. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite place I’ve played so far, since I’ve played at many great venues and festivals, especially this year; however, one of my favorites so far is Newport Folk Festival. That festival is quite legendary, and it was an honor for me to even play there, much less receive such a warm reception after my set AND get to play in Allison Russell’s headline set with so many legends on the stage. It’s an experience I’ll never forget, and one I’ll always be immensely thankful for.

Harney: Congratulations on the success of your first album,   Unwind, and on the release of your second album,   Urban Driftwood. What was the inspiration for this album?

Yasmin: Thank you! I drew inspiration from a lot of different events, places, etc., but the main inspiration was the year 2020 and everything that happened, from the start of the pandemic to the Black Lives Matter Movement and other social justice protests to all of my shows getting canceled last year, among other things. The album is also about me processing what it means for me specifically to be a black musician playing in a mostly white genre and how I can use this to create an album that can add something new to the guitar world. The pandemic and social justice movements forced me to sit down and analyze what I really wanted out of my career, and   Urban Driftwood   is the product of these ruminations.

Harney: What artists and music have been your major influences?

Yasmin: As a kid, I was influenced by Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, but more so for their willingness to be bold and adventurous in their music without caring about what other people thought of them than their actual music. Really, I tried to not have many influences because I didn’t want to mimic or copy anyone; I wanted to do my own thing and create my own voice. I had a rather insular approach to teaching myself guitar, and I knew that what I was playing and creating was from myself and not from an “influence” or “musical hero.” I also just didn’t really care about learning other people’s songs much. Nowadays, I’m inspired by a few musicians, particularly Elizabeth Cotten. Again, she’s more inspiring to me because of her unorthodox playing style and life in general, although I also really do love her songs and have learned quite a few of them.

Harney: What advice do you have for aspiring musicians or artists?

Yasmin: Be yourself. Try not to have “idols.” Do not change yourself or sacrifice your creative integrity for anything, even if this means the road to success may be longer and more cumbersome. Focus on what you want to create and put out into the world and have fun doing it.

Harney: What’s next for you? What are you looking forward to doing or achieving?

Yasmin: Lots of touring is happening now and will continue to happen, which I’m very excited for! I am also scoring a film, working on new music, collaborating on other people’s records, and drinking lots of tea. I hope to release a new record in the next couple years or sooner and I’m very excited about the future!

Harney: So, it appears you are a tea fan! What role does tea play in your life? Do you have any rituals that involve tea?

Yasmin: I am a huge tea fan! I have a tea nook in my apartment that I’m especially proud of. It houses lots of various types/brands of tea, mainly Harney & Sons teas. I try to drink a cup or two every morning. It helps me start my day with the right mindset and gives me something simple to look forward to every morning. I can be slow to get out of bed, and drinking some tea really helps with this. I also love drinking tea while working on music in the morning. When I’m on the road touring, I try to pick up tea from the hotel or a local cafe. I also sometimes bring my own tea and supplies if I have enough luggage space!

Harney: Do you have any favorite flavors or types of Harney & Sons tea, or anything on your list you’ve been keen to try?

Yasmin:   African Antlers!   Kenya Milima!   Organic Peppermint!   Earl Grey! Literally all of the   iced tea flavors! I have lots of favorite Harney & Sons teas. I love a good   black tea, and y’all have plenty of them. I’m keen on trying some white teas like the   Chinese Silver Needle or the   Ceylon Vintage Silver Tips teas!

Wow, right? There’s so much more to learn about Yasmin, beginning with hearing her music and seeing her play. You can get to know Yasmin’s music at her   website, on   YouTube,   Instagram and   Facebook. We can’t wait to see what she does next! Thank you, Yasmin, for sharing your music with us and the world. All photography was provided by Yasmin.

Shed your worries and embrace a fresh start as we welcome the Year of the Wood Snake for the 2025 Lunar New Year! Often referred to as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, this is a sacred time in many Asian countries and communities around the world. It is a time to welcome change and the possibilities it brings. In fact, the Year of the Wood Snake is believed to be a time for growth, creativity, and introspection!

The Lunar New Year is one of the oldest, culturally rich celebrations in world history. Its origins date back over 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty in China, originating from agrarian rituals and celebrations marking the end of winter and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. If you’re interested in a deep dive, we invite you to read our in-depth blog on the unique history and traditions tied to the Chinese New Year. 

Here at Harney & Sons, we look to these Chinese traditions as inspiration and connection to a region with such a rich and enduring tea history. To this day, tea is more than a beverage in China – it’s a symbol of harmony, health, and culture. We take pride in designing a new Lunar New Year tea tin annually. Our 2025  tin showcases two slithering green snakes, reflecting the Year of the Wood Snake, which is also known as the Year of the Green Snake, as wood is symbolically linked to the color green in Chinese culture. 

The flavors of our Lunar New Year tea don’t change from year to year as it’s based on the profile of Nian Gao, a Chinese New Year cake made of rice flour, brown sugar, coconut milk, and other ingredients to create a caramel-like sweetness. Nian Gao is eaten to symbolize growth, progress, and the promise of a better year ahead. It is often featured as the centerpiece of the New Year’s feast, so it seemed fitting to mirror that tradition by incorporating toasted rice, coconut pieces, sesame seeds, coconut, and caramel flavors into our 2025 Lunar New Year tea. 

As for the 2025 Chinese Zodiac or Lunar New Year animal, the snake carries a much different meaning in China than it does in the Western states. Here in the U.S., calling someone a snake likely means they’re sneaky or untrustworthy. The sentiment about serpents is reflected in media as well… just ask Harry Potter fans how they feel about the Slytherin house. 

However, in ancient Chinese traditions, the snake was highly respected, holding sacred status and becoming one of the earliest totems of the Chinese nations. Today, in some places in China, people still believe that a snake found in their courtyard can bring them good luck!

The Year of the Wood Snake is rare because it takes 60 years for an animal sign to reappear within the same element. The last Year of the Wood Snake was in 1965, predating Harney & Sons by nearly 20 years! This time around the sun, we’ve come prepared. You can bring good fortune to your friends and family as well with our Lunar New Year 2025 Gift set. This limited-edition gift contains this year’s commemorative tin, filled with 30 sachets of tea, and a cube of Sparkling Stars, sour and sweet gummies. It’s a delicious way to ring in the Lunar New Year together!

We’re excited to welcome the Year of the Wood Dragon for the 2024 Lunar New Year! The Lunar New Year is an especially magical time, full of storied traditions and larger-than-life tales. We love designing a new Lunar New Year tea tin every year to help celebrate this unique event. And this year, it’s about one of the most magical and revered or feared creatures, the wood dragon! Only slightly different from the 2023 animal, the rabbit. 

Last year, we wrote a blog covering the history and unique aspects of Chinese New Year, which we invite you to read again (or for the first time) to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the symbolism of this celebration. In it, we talk about interesting facts like why the color red plays such an important role, what foods are typically part of the festivities, and why cleaning your house is a crucial part of the preparations. It has more to do with getting rid of ill will and making room for good luck than it does with impressing the in-laws.

The flavors of our Lunar New Year tea don’t change from year to year as it’s based on the profile of Nian Gao, a Chinese New Year cake made of rice flour, brown sugar, coconut milk, and other ingredients to create a caramel-like sweetness. So we have also made our 2024 Lunar New Year tea with toasted rice, coconut pieces, sesame seeds, coconut flavor, and caramel flavor as a nod to Nian Gao. We left out the gooeyness but kept all the taste!

As for the 2024 Lunar New Year animal, the dragon – specifically the wood dragon in 2024 – is regarded differently in Chinese culture than in other cultures, where a dragon represents evil and destruction. In Chinese culture, a dragon represents wisdom, authority, good luck, strength, and health. It is believed to shower rain, good luck, and prosperity. The wood dragon combines those beneficial characteristics with nurturing wood elements, a combination expected to bring growth, progress, and abundance.

The dragon is unique because it is the only mythical creature of all the animals in the Chinese zodiac and the most popular. More babies are born in the Year of the Dragon than in any other year as parents plan to have children during that time period. Those born during the Year of the Dragon are thought to be good leaders and very fortunate in life.

In homage to the Year of the Wood Dragon, we wanted to focus on one of our many Chinese teas, Dragon Pearl Jasmine. We’ve done a deep dive before into the fascinating and intricate process used to create jasmine tea, but we thought it would be fun to explore why it has this intriguing moniker in the first place.

There’s a Chinese legend that goes back hundreds of years about how this tea got its name. While the details in versions vary, the main story remains intact. It goes like this:

One winter, a young boy in a small village near Fuzhou, Fujian (Fujian is most closely associated with jasmine tea, and it’s where we source ours) became very ill. He lived with his sister; their parents had died, and they were very poor. No doctor or treatment could help the boy get better.

The sister had been told about a mystical dragon who helped people in need, and she decided to search for the dragon. After walking through the mountains for some time, she found a cave surrounded by jasmine bushes. Inside the cave was the dragon. The girl told the dragon about her brother and asked for help.

In response, the dragon flew into the sky, and a beautiful pearl appeared on his neck. A tiny drop of water fell from the pearl onto the ground, and a tea bush sprouted and started growing instantaneously. The dragon told the girl to take care of the bush no matter what, and it would save her brother’s life. Soon, it began to pour rain, but the girl steadfastly stayed by the bush’s side. Soon, small leaves began to grow on the bush; the girl picked them and dried them next to jasmine flowers. She then made delicate beads, like the one that had been on the neck of the dragon.

When she got home, the sister brewed tea from the balled-up leaves, filling their home with the smell of jasmine. Her brother then drank the tea and miraculously recovered. 

This story has been passed down from generation to generation in Chinese families. And while it’s a legend, anyone who has had Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea knows it to be something of a magical experience as well as a potentially effective herbal remedy for many ailments. If nothing else, it makes an excellent story for your Year of the Wood Dragon party!

Have you heard of yerba mate? If you’re from a South American country, then you most certainly have! Pronounced “yehr buh maa tay,” this is the rare herbal tea that is packed with caffeine. Commonly referred to simply as “mate,” this tea is the national drink of Argentina – they even have a National Mate Day on November 30. So popular is this beverage in Argentina, there are hot-water stations in cities where residents can refill their thermos of mate with fresh hot water, allowing them to carry their mate with them and never run out – that’s how much they love it!

Derived from the leaves and twigs of the ilex paraguariensis plant native to several South American countries, mate contains several beneficial plant nutrients. The Pasteur Institute reported in 1964 that mate contains 24 vitamins and minerals, along with 15 amino acids and antioxidants. Some of those include:

• Xanthines. These compounds include caffeine and theobromine (also found in tea, coffee and chocolate) that act as stimulants. While a cup of yerba mate generally has less caffeine than a cup of coffee, it has more than most teas.
  
• Caffeoyl derivatives. These provide antioxidants, giving yerba mate some of the same health benefits of green tea, perhaps even slightly higher amounts.
  
• Saponins. While bitter, these compounds contain some anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties.
  
• Polyphenols. Another group of antioxidants, linked to a number of health benefits.

Paraguay’s Ache Guayaki tribe has sipped yerba mate from gourds for hundreds of years for its rejuvenating qualities. Yerba mate was also a popular drink among the gauchos, or cowboys, of Argentina. We suspect it was for the caffeine that helped keep them upright in the saddle on long rides rather than the potential health benefits. Although not falling out of your saddle is certainly one way to stay healthy!

This beverage is typically served in a gourd, or calabash, and drunk through a metal straw called a bombilla – it has a filter on the end to keep the leaves in the bowl and out of your mouth. It’s often served with burnt sugar, lemon juice or milk. Preparing it the traditional way in a gourd and sharing it with a friend is the reason this tea is known as the “drink of friendship” and a bonding ritual.

You can also prepare your mate using a French press or of course with an infuser or in sachets. But the bombilla sounds like more fun, don’t you think?

Discover why yerba mate is said to have the health benefits of tea, the strength of coffee and the pleasing nature of chocolate. We offer several mate blends for you to sip and savor.

Yerba Mate. A traditional mate with vegetal aromas and flavor.

Yerba Mate Mint. Our own blend of peppermint and mate.

AllNighter. Named for when you need to pull one, this tea is packed with caffeine from a blend of both yerba mate and guayusa along with a bit of liquorice for added oomph!

American Buzz. For those times when next-level doses of caffeine are required, we made this tea with three caffeinated hollies – yaupon from Texas, guayusa from Ecuador and Brazilian yerba mate. Then we added lemongrass and spearmint for an extra kick.

Focus. Also a blend of mate and guayusa, this tea from our sister company, The Hemp Division, also contains all-natural CBD along with coconut pieces and spearmint for a refreshing way to stay focused and on task – you know, so you don’t fall out of your saddle. 

Meet Candace. She’s an international yoga instructor, entrepreneur, author, health blogger, and social media maven who fell in love with yoga at the age of 15. Ever since, her passion for the practice and her love for health and wellness have taken center stage. Candace is the founder of modern yoga lifestyle company YogaByCandace LLC, author of Namaslay, and has built an unstoppable social presence, all with the goal of inspiring others to live their very best life.

Harney & Sons had the chance to chat with Candace about life, wellness, yoga, and her love of tea. Read our interview with her below!

Harney: How did you get started with yoga?

Candace: I grew up in the Northwestern part of Connecticut, and when I was in high school, my mom dragged me to Kripalu, the yoga center in the Berkshires. I was a bratty fifteen-year-old at the time, and the last place on earth I wanted to be was at a yoga center, but I actually fell in love with meditation and the yoga practice there, and wrote about the experience in my new book, Namaslay, which is now available on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, and most major bookstores in the world.

Harney: What are the benefits of yoga?

Candace: I think the real question is what doesn't yoga help with?! No, all jokes aside, yoga is fantastic no matter who you are, what you do, or where you live. Poor posture? Yoga. Are you an olympic weightlifter struggling to make gains? Yoga. Are you stressed out? Yoga. Dealing with anxiety? Yoga. Can't focus? Yoga. Ten years old or a hundred years old? Yoga, without a doubt, will be helpful.

Harney: Why is teaching and practicing yoga your passion?

Candace: My book Namaslay is mostly a yoga book, but little bits of my own personal journey are woven throughout and what it comes down to is this: Years ago, I contracted Lyme disease and it went undiagnosed despite visiting doctor after doctor. Finally, by the time I got a diagnoses, I could barely walk and it was beginning to affect my brain. I fell into a deep depression and almost gave up, but there was a voice inside me that encouraged me to keep the faith. To remain positive. To keep pushing forward. And I made a promise to myself that if I got better, I would stop living small. I would go out and make my dreams a reality. I come from a background of education (I used to be a Spanish teacher), and teaching has always been a passion. Even when I was a little girl, I would play "school" with my brother and I'd be the teacher and he'd be forced to sit through "class" as I taught cursive. I just loved sharing knowledge. I also loved traveling and entrepreneurship.

So when I did finally get better, I set out to create YogaByCandace LLC. We are a modern yoga lifestyle brand with a popular blog that welcomes two million people per year. We also run a free yoga YouTube channel that reaches over 150k people. We also curate a quarterly discovery box called Mantra Box® that aims to shine the spotlight on small businesses in the health and wellness spheres that we love (and we're thrilled to work with Harney and Sons for our summer box)! We also lead luxury yoga retreats worldwide — our next ones are taking place in Maine, Greece, and Kenya.

Harney: Why is eating healthy important to your practice?

Candace: Eating healthy is of the utmost importance to me because when I eat well, I feel well, and when I feel well, my life is just better. After being on longterm antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, my gut was a disaster. I ended up following a very strict healing GAPS diet to help heal and seal my gut lining, and now I feel the best I've ever felt. While I no longer need to follow that diet anymore, I believe in eating everything in moderation. I love food — all food!

Harney: What inspires you to focus on your health and live your best life?

Candace: Life is too short to not follow your dreams and do what you love. I always say that I am grateful for my darkest hours and biggest challenges because without them, I wouldn't have realized what I wanted out of life. Ultimately, the years I spent fighting Lyme disease and regaining my health were my biggest blessings because now I do what I love, and I don't think I would be here if it weren't for that time in my life.

Harney: When did you discover Harney & Sons, and why do you drink it?

Candace: Harney teas originated very close to where I grew up, and everyone back home knows the family name and the teas. The brand is just sort of inherently a part of that area of Connecticut, so I don't remember the first time I discovered them, but I remember my first trip to Amsterdam about six years ago. I'd just wrapped a yoga work commitment and popped into a little cafe for lunch. They had a shelf where they sold various artisanal products — high-quality chocolates, truffles, and Harney teas! I snapped and pic and tweeted them. It made me feel like I was home. I drink it because I trust the quality ... and it tastes delicious!

Harney: What is your favorite type of Harney & Sons tea?

Candace: I am really into the organic green tea with citrus and gingko right now, but I always love a good matcha tea.

Thank you for taking the time to talk with us and share your story, Candace! To learn more about YogaByCandace LLC, visit yogabycandace.com. All photography in this post has been provided by Candace @yogabycandace.

Most tea drinkers likely think that “loose leaf tea is loose leaf tea” – that there aren’t different types of loose leaf teas. Well, there are! In this article, we’ll help you understand the difference between types of loose leaf teas, and we’ll talk about how to brew loose leaf teas so that you can get the most enjoyment out of your cup or pot.

Whole Leaves

After tea leaves are fired, which is part of the flavor fixing process that most teas go through, tea makers sort the teas by leaf size by agitating the leaves through a series of screens. Whole leaves impart the fullest array of flavors; they are separated out first for the best-quality teas.

[If you’d like to take a deep dive into how tea is made, read my dad’s “From Tree to Tea” articles, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.]

If you’re a tea connoisseur, there simply is no other way to make a cup of tea than with loose leaves. There’s science behind this. Tea leaves need room to expand for full-bodied flavor; loose teas, when placed into a tea strainer or infuser, are free to bob up and down in the water, which surrounds every part of the leaves and creates a fuller flavor experience.

To give those beautiful full tea leaves plenty of room to “swim,” you’ll need a nice roomy infuser like the ones we carry. Many of our cups and mugs, as well as teapots, come with their own infuser to make brewing loose leaf tea even easier. Tea balls like many of us used back in the day – and which are still in existence now – are not ideal for brewing loose leaf tea because they don’t allow enough room for the tea to expand to its full delicious potential.

Another benefit of loose tea that probably didn’t occur to you is that it’s economical. Tea leaves can be steeped multiple times, which means you’re getting more brew for your buck. Brewing loose leaf tea also allows you to make a cup that’s unique to your individual taste – you can use more or fewer leaves depending on how strong you like your tea. Finally, loose leaf tea gets sustainability points for its lack of packaging, for which our environment is grateful.

If you’re picking up what we’re putting down about the benefits of full loose tea leaves but still don’t want to deal with infusers and measuring leaves, etc., there’s no need to worry! Many of Harney & Sons sachets contain full tea leaves. This is because our pyramid-shaped sachets – most of which are now made from a sugarcane-based material – allow for better flow of water to surround the tea leaves and expand. Sachet bonus: we’ve already done the measuring for you, ensuring you get an amazing cup of tea every time.

Broken, Fannings & Dust

After full leaves, the next smaller particles are called “broken.” Broken tea leaves make strong, brisk cups of tea. This is because they infuse faster than whole leaves. 

Fannings and dust are the smallest particles of the tea leaf. Fannings get their name from the fans that were once used to sort them – before the age of machines, tea makers sorted the leaves by tossing them into the air from a large bamboo fan. The leaves that were light enough to blow off onto the floor were separated as fannings, and the ones large enough to fall back into the fan were reserved as the best tea. Fannings and dust are set aside for teabags and instant teas, the latter of which we do not make for what we hope are obvious reasons. You’ll find fannings in Harney teabags, but never dust.

Many people prefer teabags for their convenient size  – and there’s nothing wrong with that! At Harney, we source only the finest teas, so if teabags are your jam, know that you are getting high-quality teas that will always deliver a great sip.

How to Brew Your Tea

No matter if you wonder how to brew loose leaf tea, or brew tea in sachets or teabags, we’ve got it all covered in our Making the Best Cup of Tea of Your Life. Ready to dive into brewing loose leaf teas? You can get started here, but if the choices are overwhelming, we might suggest some classics like Organic Darjeeling, English Breakfast, Chamomile, Japanese Sencha, Orange Pekoe, or Dragon Pearl Jasmine. Whichever tea you pick, enjoy exploring the tasty world of loose leaf teas!