Tea is the oriental beverage par excellence, but who says tea can not also be Made in Italy?

The history of Italian tea

Located in the Piedmont region, in the provinces of Novara and Verbania, on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the north-west of Italy, near the border with Switzerland and at the foot of the Alps, this area is renowned for its exceptional camellias. This is particularly significant as the tea plant belongs to the Camellia genus, specifically the "sinensis" species.

For the past two decades, experiments have been conducted on cultivating fully Italian, organic, and 100% locally sourced tea in this region.

The unique geographical position and the moderating influence of the lake contribute to a microclimate in the coastal area, especially on the Piedmont side, remarkably similar to that of the world's most renowned tea-producing regions.

The project for experimental tea cultivation in the coastal area of Lake Maggiore dates back to 2004 when the Tea Association of Italy (AssoTè Infusi), the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Turin, and the Province of Verbano presented an elaborate and ambitious project to the Piedmont Region. This initiative was part of a regional program focusing on research and experimentation of alternative crops with promising market prospects, meant to integrate into traditional cultivation systems.