Italie – Discovering Tea

Our Italian friends

6 December 2024

Palais des Thés opened its first shop in the sixth arrondissement of Paris in March 1987 with the ambitious mission of introducing the French to tea. After 37 years of dedication and enthusiasm, thanks to its passionate team, its quality teas, close relationships with farmers and delicious house blends, Palais des Thés has won over many people to tea through a network of more than a hundred shops and prestigious partners.

In November 2024, Palais des Thés opened its first shop in Italy, in Padua. What a wonderful challenge to bring tea to the Italians! Our Tea Sommeliers and experts, led by the indefatigable Matteo, have embarked on this exciting venture to take tea into the homes and hearts of our European neighbours, the coffee experts.

Bergamot, from fragrance to cup

18 February 2022

Although bergamot is used in tea to make the famous Earl Grey, its main application is in perfumery and has been since the first eau de colognes appeared in the 18th century. Nowadays, bergamot can be found in many fragrances and the greatest perfumers flock to Calabria to choose with care the one that suits their need. To obtain the essential oil, the fruit is first washed with reverse-osmosis water, then cold-processed using peeling machines and centrifuges.

Citrus notes

11 February 2022

In Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, bergamot is harvested from November to February from trees that each produce between 80 and 120 kilos of fruit per year. This citrus fruit, widely used in perfumery, gives the famous Earl Grey tea its citrus notes. Bergamot is grown in all the valleys in the region (pictured here: San Carlo valley), which offer breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea or the Strait of Messina.