known as a city with a great variety of international influences, rio de janeiro provides almost any flavor, and even with its lush tropical climate, it keeps its residents extra toasty with a rich selection of heated beverages.

of course, the famous hot drink of rio is coffee, however, tradition brews of tea are also widely available - after an intriguing historical relationship between the two.

while tea did not became as popular as it was expected in the days it was first introduced to the brazilian market, in the last few years the demand for high-quality teas, herbs, and gourmet flavors of tea has increased significantly.

back in the early years of the nineteenth century, about the time that the portuguese royal family moved to the city of rio de janeiro, tea was a favored drink of many european upper classes, especially the portuguese and the english, who made of tea-time social and business ritual.