Italy is often considered a coffee-drinking country, but in the late 1960s, a young Alfredo Carrai fell in love with the varieties of tea and the philosophy of taking tea. He sought to share that experience with his fellow Italians by importing tea from India. Later, he traveled to China in search of new tea experiences, which was an adventure because he didn’t speak Chinese or English, his daughter shares with a laugh. His trips introduced him to the enchanting range of teas—black, white, oolong, pu-erh, and green—many kinds of which can be sampled in their two tearooms in Florence.
The name Alfredo chose, La Via del Tè, translates into “the way of tea” or “the life of tea.” While the name refers to the historic tea routes and the silk road that brought tea to the West, it also encompasses drinking and sharing tea as a way of life. Regina explains that her father meant the name as “a way of appreciating life.”
“Tea is a gentle beverage,” says Regina. “It makes no sense to fight around a good cup of tea—it’s conviviality. It’s relaxation. There’s a lot of charm in a cup of tea.” Her favorite aspect of the business is discovering and being surprised by a flavor, such as their Yellow Sun Tea, a gorgeous yellow tea that is between a green and a white tea and has a roasted hazelnut flavor. (It’s available only in their shops.)
Their Florentine heritage inspires both their refined tearooms and their tea blending, for which they are well known. Their signature teas include their Firenze collection, a 1961 tea that celebrates their 50 years of business, and their Zodiac teas. Once the family conceives an idea for a new tea offering, they do extensive research to make sure their ingredients match their concept. They usually take six months to perfect a blend. Visitors to the shops can peer through the glass containers at the beautiful variety of textures and colors that are amalgamated into each selection.
