Melissa Harlan, owner of the beloved Drink Me! Tea Room, a staple in the Tempe community since 2020 for its focus on gluten-free, vegan treats, and experiences, is thrilled to announce the expansion of her concept with Drink Me! Tea & Treats now open next to the Tempe tea room. This exciting new venture is an express tea bar concept to complement its popular afternoon tea experience.

Drink Me! Tea & Treats sells premium loose-leaf teas, tea drinks, and also offers allergy-friendly treats. The hot and iced drink menu features various flavors such as Ginger Orange Peach or the Strawberry Rose Tea Latte crafted with strawberry green tea, strawberry jam, rose syrup, and coconut milk. Teas can be sweetened with plant based syrup flavors such as Lavender and Praline. Drink Me! Tea & Treats is also partnering with Brick Road Coffee, another Tempe craft beverage staple, to bring its cold brew coffee to the menu. Allergy-friendly additions are also available with oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, agave, and Stevia.

Drink Me! Tea & Treats gluten free and plant based bakery items include coffee cake, chocolate chip brownies, shortbread cookies, vanilla scones, a variety of seasonal vegan macarons. As a grand opening special, Drink Me! Tea & Treats will be offering $3 off any purchase of a dozen macrons through June 1, 2024.

Along its main wall, Drink Me! Tea & Treats also offers a variety of gifts and to-go loose-leaf tea. Pair a gift with a box of housemade macarons for Mother’s Day or a birthday for that perfect last-minute gift.

Harlan's passion for creating a welcoming space for all stemmed from a trip to London with her family in 2019. She fell in love with the tradition of afternoon tea, and upon returning home, she started crafting a business plan on the plane itself. This desire to share the joy of afternoon tea was further fueled by Harlan's own experience with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which led her to adopt a gluten-free and vegan lifestyle. Recognizing the lack of readily available desserts for those with similar dietary restrictions, she envisioned a space where everyone could indulge without limitations.

Joining Melissa in this expansion is her daughter, Haley. Haley started at Drink Me! Tea Room as an after-school helper, and has grown into the role of Chef and General Manager. Having witnessed the tea room's impact on the community, particularly in providing a safe space for those with food allergies, inspired Haley to continue in her mother's path.

Drink Me! Tea & Treats caters to both businesses and customers seeking delicious and allergen-friendly treats. Local restaurants and stores will also be able to source wholesale quantities of the bakery items, allowing them to offer inclusive dessert options on their menus.

“We saw a lack of representation of desserts for those with food allergies when we would go out to eat. Yes, many restaurants now have a few gluten-free and vegan side dishes and entree options on menus, but rarely through to the dessert portion of the menu. Creating a central hub for restaurants to offer fresh desserts on their menus can foster an inclusive dining experience for many customers,” said Melissa Harlan, owner of Drink Me! Tea & Treats.

Beyond expanding their delicious offerings, Drink Me! Tea & Treats upholds the values established at the tea room. Sustainability remains a core focus, and the bakery is committed to environmentally friendly practices. They will continue their involvement with the Tempe community through partnerships like Drag Story Hour AZ, Tempe Leadership, Elephant Care Unchained, and One Community.

Drink Me! Tea & Treats embodies Melissa Harlan's dedication to creating a world where plant-based, gluten-free, and sustainable living is accessible to all. This expansion promises to enrich the Tempe community further, offering delicious treats and a space of inclusivity and joy.

Drink Me! Tea & Treats will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm and is located at 1730 E Warner Rd Ste 8, Tempe, AZ 85284. For wholesale requests, please email contact @ drinkmetearoom.com for more information. Online ordering for pick up and delivery to come soon at a later date. For more information visit http://www.drinkmeatearoom.com or call (480) 534-7990 during business hours.