Cilento relaunches the old Brera spice shop

With the enhancement project already under way, RARAE is committed to bringing the Spezieria's historic formulas back to the market, including the Elisir di China, the oldest preparation, and the Elisir di Carciofo, Rabarbaro and Menta, known for their intense flavours and beneficial properties. Also soon to be released is a Rosehip Elixir, prized for its revitalising and antioxidant properties. RARAE has also reintroduced to the market the famous 'Brera pills', now reworked as artisanal candies, prepared with natural ingredients according to a careful traditional manufacturing process. Each pill is made with a delicate and slightly floury texture, reminiscent of the ancient pills prepared in spice factories, offering contemporary palates an authentic taste experience steeped in history. The artisanal process follows methods inspired by ancient practices, with careful blending of raw materials to achieve the ideal balance of flavour and texture. The pills are available in China, mint and liquorice flavours, with new flavours on the way, each evoking a little journey back in time. Starting next year, the offer of the Antica Spezieria di Brera 1591 will be further expanded with new product lines, ranging from cosmetics to confectionery and household products.

At Christmas, the Red Tobacco, White Tobacco, Woods and Flowers, and Garden fragrances will be presented. This expansion aims to consolidate the brand's sensory and authentic experience, extending its presence to sectors related to health, wellness and excellence.

Commercial expansion between direct sales and selected distribution

RARAE will launch its offer through a dedicated e-commerce platform, allowing fans to purchase Antica Spezieria di Brera 1591 branded products directly online. In parallel, the company has launched a distribution network aimed at wholesalers and selected partners in the horeca sector, including bars, restaurants, wine shops, pharmacies and perfumeries, to extend its market presence. Looking to the future, RARAE is considering opening a physical shop in order to offer an even more immersive and complete experience to its customers.

Tailor-made accessories by Cilento 1780

To further celebrate the value of Italian craftsmanship, RARAE will introduce, alongside the products of the Spezieria, a line of exclusive sartorial accessories made of silk by Cilento 1780 and dedicated to the Antica Spezieria di Brera. These will include scarves and ties representing the excellence of the Italian sartorial tradition.

International ambition and sustainability

RARAE aims for significant growth both nationally and internationally, with a strategy to expand its network of selected artisans and suppliers. The company adopts a business model that integrates quality craftsmanship and innovation, respecting values of sustainability and authenticity and responding to new global trends in excellence and responsible consumption.

The History of the Antica Spezieria di Brera: Tradition and Innovation since 1591

Founded by the Jesuits in 1591, the Antica Spezieria di Brera was Milan's first apothecary's shop, an authentic temple of herbal medicine, guardian of alchemical and phytotherapeutic knowledge that has spanned the centuries. Within these walls, the Jesuits created remedies that would become legendary, such as the famous Brera Pills and the Jesuit Rosolio, the elixir of life.

Initially, the apothecary's role was closely linked to the Jesuit mission of caring for and supporting the poorest, and was fed by produce grown in the surrounding gardens and agricultural areas, including those in the old Brera agricultural zone, or 'Braida' as it was once called. This name, derived from the Germanic word breit ('wide'), emphasised the rural and cultivated character of this part of Milan. Later, with the foundation of the Brera Botanical Garden in 1774 at the behest of Maria Theresa of Austria, the cultivation of medicinal and rare herbs found new impetus. Although the Garden was not directly linked to the Jesuit apothecary, it became a centre of botanical research for medicinal plants, continuing and expanding the tradition of studying medicinal herbs in the same area.

Over time, the apothecary's shop attracted illustrious figures, including Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1812, it evolved into the Antica Farmacia di Brera and became a point of reference for figures such as Alessandro Manzoni. In 1837, a young Carlo Erba started his business here, destined to make his mark on pharmaceutical and Milanese culture. Erba embodied the values of the Spezieria: innovation, dedication and respect for a tradition rooted in Milan's history.

In the context of the Counter-Reformation, however, the Jesuit apothecary's shop suffered difficult times. In 1571, shortly before its official foundation, the archbishop of Milan, St. Charles Borromeo, suppressed several apothecaries' shops linked to religious orders, as he was concerned about the risk of unregulated and controversial measures used in cures. Borromeo considered it essential to centralise and regulate the use of drugs and remedies, limiting the power of religious apothecaries to avoid practices that he perceived as risky for the population. However, the Jesuits managed to assert the importance of their health care mission, finally obtaining permission to continue their activities with the official foundation of the Spezieria di Brera two decades later.