Gin Seta recounts a tale that celebrates the memory of an ancient caravan route and the scents that accompanied it from the Far East to the shores of Lake Como. It is a story in which ancient folk traditions blend with the legacies of the trade that emerged along the tea route, also known as the Southern Silk Road. The elegance of Gin Seta resides in the sophisticated combination of aromas and spices and a skilful processing of ingredients that is able to evoke ancient traditions and cultures of places near and far.
The mulberry leaves are supplied by Moroon, a young company in Gallarate that has converted an old, disused piece of land into a mulberry orchard and turned it into a silkworm farm. The Sichuan pepper and the green tea leaves, on the other hand, come from the Far East and are relate to the ancient trade route that began in the Chinese province of Yunnan, one of the largest tea producing areas, to continue on through India, Burma, Tibet and the Sichuan province in central China.
Completely limpid and crystal clear in appearance, Gin Seta presents itself with softness on tasting, only later releasing the spicier notes of Sichuan pepper. The aromas to first reach the nose unfold in fragrant scents of cardamom with fresh hints of green tea. The velvety essence of mulberry leaves accompanies the alcoholic body, lending personality to the heart of green tea, which, slowly warming, lingers in multifaceted aromas.
The elegant bottle, similar in shape and concept to that of the bitter of the same name, features lively graphic details that recall the colours and sinuous movement of the lake's waves. The look is completed by the recognisable foulard of Seteria Bellieni 1954 of Como, which is knotted round the neck. The cooperation with the company involves the recovery of carefully selected and packaged industrial offcuts. Gin Seta is thus part of a broader project to celebrate Lake Como and its priceless heritage. This all began a few years earlier with Amaro Seta, Lake Como’s liqueur whose enveloping scent of mulberry meets the clear, firm notes of saffron and bitter orange. The result is a vibrant expression of Como's historical heritage as seen through the fresh and contemporary eyes of a young group of designers and architects.