Harney & Sons
Harney & Sons presentation
Harney & Sons brings four decades of tea expertise to the matcha marketplace, offering Japanese-sourced green tea powder that reflects the family’s dedication to quality since 1983. Founded by John Harney and now led by his sons Michael and Paul, the company maintains direct relationships with Japanese tea growers that span more than 35 years. This hands-on approach ensures their premium matcha meets the exacting standards that have made the brand a trusted name among tea enthusiasts.
Direct Sourcing from Japan’s Historic Tea Region
Harney & Sons sources its matcha from Japan’s renowned Uji region near Kyoto, where tea cultivation has been perfected over eight centuries. The family has spent decades building personal connections with farmers in this historic area, known for producing Japan’s most prestigious matcha. These long-standing partnerships give them access to shade-grown leaves that develop the vibrant green color and smooth, umami-rich flavor profile matcha lovers seek.
Traditional Methods Meet American Accessibility
The company bridges Japanese tea tradition with American tea culture. Their matcha undergoes the traditional production process: tea plants are shaded for weeks before harvest to boost chlorophyll and amino acids, then the youngest leaves are steamed, dried, and stone-ground into fine powder. Harney & Sons makes this ceremonial-grade quality accessible to both newcomers exploring matcha’s health benefits and experienced practitioners of the Japanese tea ceremony.
A Range for Every Purpose
Understanding that matcha serves different needs, the brand offers varieties suited to various uses:
- Ceremonial-grade matcha for traditional whisked preparation and mindful drinking
- Culinary-grade options for lattes, smoothies, and baking applications
- Educational resources about proper preparation and the tea’s antioxidant properties
Family Values in Every Tin
What sets Harney & Sons apart is their family-driven commitment to tea education and quality. Mike Harney actively shares insights about matcha’s growing popularity in America and its impact on Japanese tea production. The company doesn’t just sell matcha—they help customers understand its origins, production methods, and the cultural significance behind each cup. This approach has earned them distribution in specialty stores and high-end retailers while maintaining the personal touch that defines a family business.
For matcha buyers comparing brands, Harney & Sons offers Japanese authenticity backed by decades of direct sourcing experience, making them a reliable choice in an increasingly crowded market.
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Matcha produced by Harney & Sons
Harney & Sons offers a carefully curated selection of matcha (powdered green tea) sourced primarily from Japan’s prestigious Uji region, renowned for producing the world’s finest matcha. The American tea company, established in 1983 and run by John Harney’s sons Michael and Paul, has cultivated relationships with Japanese tea growers for over three decades.
Premium Matcha Collection
Unjonotomo (Extra Thick Grade) represents Harney & Sons’ flagship matcha offering. This award-winning ceremonial-grade matcha is crafted from shade-grown tencha (pre-matcha tea leaves) and delivers pronounced sweetness with luxurious vegetal flavors. Sourced from a small garden along the Uji River, this matcha embodies the pinnacle of traditional Japanese tea ceremony quality.
Senjunomukashi (Thick Grade) offers rich umami (savory taste) complemented by subtle sulfurous notes that indicate high-quality processing. This thick-grade matcha has been used traditionally in ancient Japanese and modern day tea ceremonies, making it ideal for both ceremonial preparation and daily enjoyment.
Matcha Jobetsugi (Thin Grade) presents a more subdued flavor profile perfect for daily consumption. Sourced from the Wazuka Valley, this versatile matcha pairs exceptionally well with chocolate and works beautifully in smoothies, lattes, and various culinary applications.
Organic Matcha Options
Everyday Organic Matcha comes from Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, where it’s harvested later in spring to achieve a more accessible price point. This organic matcha features a lighter color and delicate flavor, making it suitable for both baking and beverage creation while maintaining quality above average culinary-grade matcha.
The company also produces a small tin Organic Matcha made in spring from the finest young tea leaves, offering higher quality than the everyday version while remaining organic-certified.
Innovative Matcha Blends
Harney & Sons expands the matcha experience with creative blends including Very Berry Matcha, White Peach Matcha, and Earl Grey Matcha. Unlike traditional powdered matcha, these blends are prepared by steeping like conventional teas, offering unique flavor combinations for those seeking non-traditional matcha experiences.
Traditional Stone Milling
The smaller tin offerings including Unjonotomo, Senjunomukashi, Jobetsugi, and Organic Matcha are all crafted using traditional stone mills that grind tencha into very fine and delicate powdered form. The Everyday Organic Matcha utilizes larger industrial milling equipment to maintain its economical positioning.
History of Harney & Sons
Harney & Sons began as the vision of John Harney in 1983, establishing itself as a distinguished American tea purveyor with a commitment to sourcing the finest teas from around the world. What started as one man’s passion for exceptional tea has evolved into a family enterprise that spans over four decades.
Family Legacy and Leadership
Today, the company operates under the dedicated leadership of Michael and Paul Harney, John Harney’s sons, who have embraced both tradition and innovation in their approach to tea curation. The Harney family has maintained their founding principles while expanding their reach and expertise in the global tea market.
Matcha Expertise and Japanese Connections
For over three decades, Harney & Sons has cultivated enduring relationships with Japanese tea growers, establishing deep connections in renowned tea-producing regions including Uji, Kagoshima, Mie, Shizuoka, and Wazuka. Their flagship matcha, Unjonotomo (Extra Thick Grade), is sourced from a small garden along the Uji River, while their Jobetsugi comes from the celebrated Wazuka Valley.
Commitment to Quality and Values
The company distinguishes itself through its unwavering commitment to sustainability, diversity, and equality in all operations. Their smaller tin offerings, including Unjonotomo, Senjunomukashi, Jobetsugi, and Organic Matcha, are crafted using traditional stone mills, preserving centuries-old Japanese techniques.
As Michael Harney wisely advises, “Always drink teas that make you smile!” – a philosophy that continues to guide the company’s mission to bring joy and quality to tea lovers worldwide.
4 events from Harney & Sons's history
January 1983
Company Foundation
John Harney established Harney & Sons as an American tea purveyor, beginning a journey focused on sourcing premium teas and crafting innovative blends from around the world.
January 1990
Japanese Tea Partnerships Begin
Harney & Sons began cultivating relationships with Japanese tea growers, establishing connections that would span over three decades and become fundamental to their matcha expertise.
January 2000
Second Generation Leadership
Michael and Paul Harney, John’s sons, took over company operations, continuing to embrace both tradition and innovation while emphasizing sustainability, diversity, and equality in business practices.
January 2010
Premium Matcha Line Expansion
The company expanded its premium matcha offerings, including award-winning Unjonotomo Extra Thick Grade sourced from a small garden along the Uji River and Jobetsugi from Wazuka Valley.
Gallery and medias
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Frequent questions
Find below some answers to the most common questions about Harney & Sons.
What's the difference between Harney & Sons' Unjonotomo and Senjunomukashi matcha grades?
Unjonotomo (Extra Thick Grade) represents Harney & Sons’ award-winning, top-tier matcha with pronounced sweetness and luxurious vegetal essence, ideal for traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. Senjunomukashi (Thick Grade) offers a rich umami (savory) taste with subtle sulfurous notes, historically used in both ancient and modern tea ceremonies.
Both are stone-ground from premium tencha (shade-grown tea leaves), but Unjonotomo commands the highest price point due to its superior leaf selection and processing standards.
Why does Harney & Sons offer both small tin Organic Matcha and Everyday Organic Matcha from Kyushu?
The distinction lies in harvest timing and processing methods:
- Small tin Organic Matcha: Made from the best young spring leaves, stone-ground using traditional methods
- Everyday Organic Matcha: Harvested later in spring, processed with larger industrial milling equipment for economy
Both originate from Kyushu island, but the later harvest timing makes Everyday Organic Matcha more affordable while maintaining quality suitable for baking and beverages.
How do Harney & Sons' blended matchas like Very Berry and White Peach differ from traditional matcha?
Harney & Sons’ innovative matcha blends—including Very Berry Matcha, White Peach Matcha, and Earl Grey Matcha—are fundamentally different from traditional powdered matcha. These blends are not powdered and must be steeped like regular tea rather than whisked.
This unique approach allows Harney & Sons to combine matcha’s distinctive flavor with additional ingredients, creating a different matcha experience that bridges traditional tea preparation with matcha’s health benefits.
Which Harney & Sons matcha should I choose for daily drinking versus baking?
For daily drinking, choose Jobetsugi (Thin Grade), which offers a more subdued flavor profile perfect for regular consumption and pairs excellently with chocolate.
For baking and culinary use, Everyday Organic Matcha provides the best value—its lighter color and delicate flavor work seamlessly in recipes, smoothies, and beverage creations without overwhelming other ingredients.
Avoid using the premium Unjonotomo or Senjunomukashi for cooking, as their complex flavors and higher price points are best appreciated in traditional tea preparation.
What makes Harney & Sons' sourcing relationships unique in the matcha industry?
Harney & Sons has cultivated enduring relationships with Japanese tea growers for over three decades, sourcing from specific regions including Uji, Kagoshima, Mie, Shizuoka, and Wazuka. They maintain particularly close ties with a small garden along the Uji River for their Unjonotomo matcha and source Jobetsugi specifically from the Wazuka Valley.
This long-term partnership approach ensures consistent quality and allows them to maintain traditional stone-grinding methods for their premium small tin offerings while adapting to market demands through their industrial-processed Everyday line.
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