A new urban retreat opens at Via Carducci 38 where tea, design and mindful living transform every break into a mindful wellness experience
Momenteeria opens in Milan as the first contemporary tea room dedicated to the rituals of happiness. Located on Via Carducci, just steps from the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, it offers a clear vision: to restore value to slow time through the simple yet profound act of tea.
The name itself speaks to the project’s soul. “Momento” and “teeria” merge into a new word, capable of defining a space where beauty, care, and comfort find a natural balance. Every detail creates a small daily ceremony, designed to accompany authentic and mindful break.
A tea collection between excellence and research
The Momenteeria menu features approximately sixty products, all available for purchase. Fine single-origin teas, imported directly from China and certified by the Italian Tea and Infusion Association, coexist alongside original blends enriched with Italian botanicals.
Highlights include hand-rolled Dian Hong, top-grade Bai Mu Dan, and ultra-fresh 2025 harvests like the rare Huo Shan Huang Ya. Alongside, herbal teas and infusions by Albino Ferri, a historic Italian company in the sector. A selection that combines tradition, quality, and contemporary identity.
The tea ritual: a slow and conscious gesture
The heart of Momenteeria lies in the tea ritual, overseen by Prime Tea Sommelier Riccardo Colosi. The leaves are presented on handcrafted white stoneware plates and placed in glass teapots, while evocative words accompany the experience.
The brewing process follows the rhythm of an hourglass. The wait becomes part of the ritual. The tasting arrives in white cups, designed to enhance the tea’s natural color. An information sheet explains the origin, characteristics, and ideal time for consumption, transforming every choice into a personal gesture.
The blends have names that evoke emotions: Ritual No. 1 – Happiness in the Little Things, Ritual No. 8 – Autumn Equinox in Milan, Ritual No. 14 – Fireflies in the Bushes, Ritual No. 12 – Secret Lucky Charm. Little stories, captured in a cup.
Tea, mixology and hospitality
Tea Tender and Store Manager Monica Angeli leads the experience with expertise and a flair for hospitality. Among her creations, her reinterpretation of Rituale n1 stands out, transformed into a gin-based cocktail capable of bridging different worlds and languages.
At Momenteeria, tea also dialogues with mixology, redefining the boundaries between tea room, convivial space and meeting place.
Mindful Eating: Light Lunches and Comfort Food
Food becomes an integral part of the ritual. Natural, colorful, and designed for slow enjoyment, it accompanies every moment of the day: breakfast, lunch, and tea time.
The lunch menu, created by nutritionist biologist Nicole Labaguer and psychotherapist Antonella Calabrese, is divided into two options:
- Light lunch: seasonal jar-cooked dishes such as pumpkin cream soup, Venere rice with curried vegetables and prawns, salmon fillet with sautéed vegetables.
- Comfort Food: mindful reinterpretations of iconic jar-cooked recipes, from shaken cacio e pepe to lasagna with hand-crafted beef ragù.
Each offering can be paired with select teas for a complete mindful eating experience.
Artisan patisserie and micro-masterpieces
The pastry selection, created by Rita Strati, architect and cake designer, presents a refined, narrative aesthetic. The Momenteeria Cake with matcha and white chocolate, the Sant’Ambrogio Tart, and the Ginkgo Leaf Tart in Milan sit alongside vegan desserts, single portions, and biscuits inspired by nature and tradition.
Madeleines, colourful hummingbirds, creations inspired by Leonardo, and edible flowers transform every break into a gesture of everyday beauty.
An interior that invites calm
The interior project, designed by Paola Podenzani, unfolds across a 150 sqm space on two levels. On the ground floor, the counter and boutique offering teas, infusions, herbal blends, and gifts for joyful moments take centre stage, dominated by a restored vintage counter that conveys elegance and memory.
The upper level hosts the tea room, the pastry room, and the event space with a communal table. Lichen green, terracotta, soft lighting, natural scents, and ambient sounds create a warm, enveloping atmosphere. Textured materials, velvets, and soft surfaces evoke a welcoming home where time truly slows down.
Momenteeria Milano: values, sustainability, and future vision
Momenteeria builds its project on wellbeing, sustainability, and inclusion. Its zero-waste philosophy takes shape through concrete choices: loose-leaf teas, refillable tins, glass-bottled water, and jar-cooking with returnable containers.
Born from the meeting of two women entrepreneurs, Alessandra Gorlero and Erica Della Bianca, the tea room looks to the future with the goal of becoming the first Italian franchise of contemporary tea rooms, dedicated to wellbeing and female entrepreneurship.
