“We have probably one of the largest blending departments in Europe,” says Regina. “We are not only Italian, but we are Florentine, so we have a sense of inherited history but also a sense of beauty.” They try to infuse this sensibility into each tea they offer. One of their most popular flavored green teas, Romeo and Juliet, features strawberries to remind the tea drinker of a very young girl, like Juliet, along with rose petals and papaya pieces.
The Firenze collection of six tea blends—with evocative names ranging from the Mystery of Venus to the Secret of the Medici—evokes Florence’s storied past. The Secret of the Medici tea, for example, is a silvery Pekoe white tea with a blend based on a “jasmine flower chocolate recipe” that the notorious Medici family offered at the close of their banquets.
For their Zodiac collection, they researched traditional horoscope books to find guidelines through the centuries. They found out which colors, precious stones, foods, and animals were associated with each sign. Once they determined which tea best suited each sign, they added appropriate flowers or fruit pieces. The zodiac teas have been particularly popular with Chinese travelers.
