Tea Blog

Cha Jing, the classic book of tea written by Lu Yu in the 8th century CE, is still read and revered by tea lovers the world over. It now lends its name to a tea industry award.

World Tea Media, producers of World Tea Expo, introduced the Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award at World Tea East in Philadelphia on September 9th. As announced by WTM, the award “recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made considerable contributions to the growth, innovation, and education of the specialty tea industry throughout their lifetime.”

The first recipient of the award is Mr. John Harney, founder of Harney & Sons Fine Teas. His story, from Cornell to Connecticut, Sarum to Harney’s, and to many points between and beyond, is familiar to most tea lovers.

Almost everyone in the tea world – in the USA and beyond – has a John Harney story or two. Here’s one of mine:

When I first became involved in “the tea world” in the mid-1990s, I sourced most of my teas from Harney’s. I loved the lush, informative catalogues, and the wide variety and high quality of the teas (I still do).

In May of 1997, my husband and I spent a weekend in the Massachusetts Berkshires, and from there made a trip – or, as I viewed it, a pilgrimage – to the Harney headquarters in Salisbury, Connecticut.

We walked into the tiny shop and found someone reading a newspaper. The paper dropped to reveal John Harney, who introduced himself and welcomed us warmly. My husband says I was stammering, and although I don’t remember, I believe him: In a world of “celebrities” of all kinds, very few people truly impress me. John Harney is one of those people. To say I was delighted to meet him is an understatement.

He cordially offered to guide us around the then-small warehouse/factory areas. In the tasting room, he passionately described the differences amongst the Darjeeling flushes – my introduction to this most exquisite of teas. We went home with a variety of teas, both purchased and samples.

Since then I have had the privilege of Mr. Harney serving as tour guide through their larger facility in Salisbury, and again most recently in their newest office, warehouse, and factory in Millerton, New York. The company has grown so large that it’s a completely separate building from their beautiful expanded tasting room, shop, and café.

Some things, however, have not changed over the years: the wonderful smells and tastes of the teas; the fascinating flavouring and packaging processes; and the courtliness and tea-missionary zeal of our host.

John Harney is truly a master of both tea and of life. I cannot think of anyone who more deserves the recognition the Cha Jing Award bestows.

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