L’Essenza del

What L’Essenza del does

L'Essenza del The (legal entity: ELLEVIBI S.a.s.) is a privately held Italian specialty tea retailer operating from a single retail store at Via Cerva, 12 in Milan, complemented by a proprietary e-commerce website (essenzadelthe.it) that ships throughout Italy. The business was established approximately around 2012 and currently employs 7 people. The company describes itself as the first Milanese store highly specialized in the sale of tea and infusions, and is the sole Italian distributor of the 'Tè degli Imperatori' (Emperor's Teas) line.

The product catalog comprises over 250 varieties of natural teas sourced from global origins including India, China, Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Vietnam, Taiwan, Africa, Brazil, and Peru, alongside more than 60 proprietary blended and flavored teas, tisanes, fruit infusions, matcha, pu'erh, smoked teas, and tea pyramids. Complementary categories include tea accessories — teapots (ceramic, cast iron tetsubin, Yixing, Kyusu), strainers, cups, matcha tools, samovars, infusion timers — as well as flavored coffees, curated gift sets, and professional tea tasting experiences. The technology stack is a standard PHP e-commerce storefront with no proprietary platform, app, API, or AI components.

Revenue is generated entirely through one-time retail sales of tea and accessories via the Milan storefront and the nationwide e-commerce site. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, targeted at Italian tea enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and gift buyers, with content marketing (blog, newsletter, RSS, organic social) used to drive SEO-led acquisition. There is no disclosed pricing tier structure, no wholesale channel, no enterprise or B2B contracts, no disclosed funding, and no institutional ownership.

Name

L’Essenza del

Legal name

ELLEVIBI S.a.s.

Website

https://essenzadelthe.it

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

L'Essenza del The is a privately held Milan-based specialty tea retailer (operating as ELLEVIBI S.a.s.) offering 250+ natural teas and 60+ blends through a single physical store and nationwide Italian e-commerce, serving tea enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and gift buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Tea Retail

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAHAGAI

Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories)

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Specialty Food Stores (Deli, Cheese, Gourmet, Bakery)

SECONDARYTHAFAKAD

Specialty Tea Shops (Loose-Leaf, Tea Bars)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Beverage Shops (Juice, Smoothie, Tea, Non-Alcoholic Specialty)

SECONDARYAFAFADAG

Tea Blending & Flavoring

Agriculture & Food Production/Beverage Production/Coffee & Tea Processing (Roasting, Blending, RTD)

Keywords

• Specialty tea retail
• Loose leaf teas
• Herbal infusions
• Tea accessories
• Tea tasting experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Tea Sales: The company generates revenue through retail sales of specialty teas and tea accessories from its physical store in Milan and online shop. Product categories include natural teas (over 250 varieties from worldwide origins), flavored tea blends (60+ varieties), tisanes, fruit infusions, and tea accessories including teapots, kettles, and brewing equipment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

L'Essenza del The is a specialty tea retailer operating from a physical store in Milan and an e-commerce website, offering over 250 natural tea varieties from global origins (India, China, Sri Lanka, Japan, Africa, Korea, Nepal, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brazil, Peru, South Africa) and over 60 blended/flavored teas, tisanes, and fruit infusions. The product portfolio also includes tea accessories (teapots, strainers, cups, matcha and pu'erh tools), gift sets, flavored coffees, and professional tea tasting experiences. It is the only retailer in Italy distributing the exclusive 'Tè degli Imperatori' (Emperor's Teas) line.

Product overview

L'Essenza del The is a specialty tea and infusion retailer based in Milan, Italy. The shop offers over 250 varieties of natural teas from global origins and over 60 blended/flavored teas. The product portfolio includes natural teas (green, black, white, yellow, oolong), flavored teas and blends, herbal teas, pu'erh, smoked teas, and matcha. Complementary product lines include tea preparation accessories (teapots, strainers, cups), flavored coffees, gift sets, and professional tea tasting experiences. The company also distributes the exclusive 'Tè degli Imperatori' (Teas of the Emperors) line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tè Naturali (Natural Teas) Over 250 varieties of natural teas sourced from around the world including India, China, Sri Lanka, Africa, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Vietnam, Formosa (Taiwan), Brazil, Peru, and South Africa. Includes green, black, white, yellow, and oolong teas. Targeted at tea enthusiasts and connoisseurs seeking authentic single-origin teas.
• Tè Aromatizzati e Miscele (Flavored Teas and Blends) Over 60 blended and flavored teas including Earl Grey variants, chai teas, jasmine teas, fruit-infused teas, and specialty seasonal blends. Targeted at consumers seeking curated flavor profiles beyond traditional single-origin teas.
• Tisane e Infusi (Herbal Teas and Infusions) Herbal teas and fruit/vegetable infusions including chamomile, lemongrass, hibiscus, rose buds, sage, tulsi, and rooibos from South Africa. Targeted at consumers seeking caffeine-free wellness and flavored fruit infusions.
• Matcha e Accessori (Matcha and Accessories) Premium matcha powders and dedicated matcha preparation tools including bamboo whisks (chasen), measuring spoons (chashaku), matcha bowls, and matcha-specific accessories. Targeted at consumers interested in Japanese tea ceremony and matcha preparation.
• Pu'erh e Accessori (Pu'erh Tea and Accessories) Aged pu'erh teas from Yunnan province in various formats including tuo cha, cake, and loose leaf, along with pu'erh-specific brewing accessories. Targeted at collectors and enthusiasts of aged Chinese teas.
• Tè Affumicati (Smoked Teas) Smoked teas including Lapsang Souchong varieties from China and Formosa (Taiwan), with distinctive pine and cedar smoke flavors. Targeted at adventurous tea drinkers seeking distinctive flavor profiles.
• Teiere e Accessori (Teapots and Accessories) Various teapots including ceramic and porcelain, cast iron (tetsubin), glass teapots, Yixing clay teapots, and Kyusu Japanese teapots. Also includes samovars, kettles, trays, and tea caddies. Targeted at tea enthusiasts seeking proper brewing equipment.
• Infusori e Filtri (Tea Strainers and Filters) Tea strainers, tea sacs, pyramid tea bags, and various infusion accessories for loose leaf tea preparation. Targeted at consumers preparing loose leaf tea.
• Tazze, Mugs e Ciandole (Cups, Mugs and Bowls) Tea cups, mugs, and bowls including matcha bowls, glass cups, and ceramic pieces for tea service. Targeted at consumers building tea service sets.
• Caffè Aromatizzati (Flavored Coffees) Flavored ground coffees including chocolate-orange, Irish cream, and other aromatic varieties. Targeted at consumers seeking specialty flavored coffee alongside tea purchases.
• Idee Regalo (Gift Ideas) Gift boxes and sets including tea tasting collections, decorative packaging, and curated sampler packs for special occasions. Targeted at gift buyers seeking unique tea-themed presents.
• Degustazioni (Tea Tastings) Professional tea tasting experiences and sampling packages featuring curated selections from different tea-growing regions. Targeted at tea enthusiasts, beginners, and groups seeking guided tea education.
• Piramidi di Tè (Tea Pyramids) Pyramid-shaped tea bags containing premium loose leaf teas in various varieties including Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey, and flavored blends. Targeted at consumers seeking convenience combined with premium loose leaf quality.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Harney & Sons: US specialty tea company with retail locations, e-commerce, and wholesale, offering 300+ varieties of loose-leaf and bagged teas. Closely comparable in SKU breadth, premium positioning, and blend development strategy.
• Dammann Frères: French specialty tea retailer and blender operating since 1692, with stores in France and international distribution, offering 500+ teas and accessories. Highly comparable business model combining retail, proprietary blending, and tea accessories.
• La Via del Tè: Italian specialty tea retailer (Florence-based) with multiple stores, e-commerce, and curated teas from around the world. Direct domestic peer in the Italian market with the same retail + e-commerce + accessories model.
• Tea Forte: US luxury tea brand with pyramid tea bags, accessories, and gift sets, distributed via own e-commerce, premium retail, and hotels. Comparable in premium gifting positioning, pyramid-bag format, and accessories range.
• Whittard of Chelsea: UK heritage tea and coffee retailer (founded 1886) with own stores, e-commerce, and broad assortment of teas, accessories, and giftware. Comparable in retail heritage, accessories mix, and gift-set strategy, though operating at significantly greater scale.
• Mariage Frères: Paris-based luxury tea retailer founded 1854, operating boutique tea houses and e-commerce globally with hundreds of single-origin and blended teas. Closest direct peer in positioning (premium specialty retail), product breadth, and experiential retail (tea salons) — only differs in scale and geography.
• Teapigs: UK specialty tea brand selling whole-leaf teas, tea temples (pyramid bags), and accessories through retail and e-commerce. Comparable in premium loose-leaf focus, modern branding, and pyramid-bag product format (L'Essenza del Thè also sells 'Piramidi di Tè').
• Palais des Thés: French specialty tea retailer with owned stores and online sales, focused on single-origin and flavored teas with strong educational content. Directly comparable in category positioning, e-commerce + retail mix, and content-led marketing approach.
• Kusmi Tea: French-Russian premium tea brand with own boutiques in Europe, e-commerce, and broad flavored/loose-leaf range. Comparable in premium positioning, product breadth, and retail experience, though at greater scale and with stronger brand marketing.

Broad incumbents

• Twinings: UK heritage tea brand (founded 1706) with mass-market distribution plus own retail experiences and broad tea range. Overlaps in retail format and tea category breadth but operates at vastly larger scale across mainstream and specialty tiers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/121726987876064
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/l%E2%80%99essenza-del

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about L’Essenza del