We are very excited to have been interviewed by Nikki Michelle Charnstrom for a feature article in the Phoenix New Times. Here is an excerpt:
Journey Down The Rabbit Hole for an Allergen-free Afternoon Tea in Tempe
Blending old-world tradition with storybook charm, Drink Me! Tea Room is a whimsical escape burrowed in Tempe, born from an idea that originated during a 10-hour flight from London to Phoenix in 2019.
Melissa Harlan, owner and founder of the tea room crafted her plan for the allergen-free concept on that plane ride home four years ago after she and her family experienced the enchantment of British afternoon tea.
“I feel like it was really out of my control during that time. Like the universe was working through me to make this come to life because it was almost like I would start writing ideas down and then I would dream about them,” Harlan says. “Then, all of a sudden, I had to figure out how to make it work…the next thing I know, it’s an actual place with these actual things that I drew.”
In July 2020, Harlan opened the Drink Me! Tea Room at Warner Road and McClintock Drive. When creating the British-inspired experience in Arizona, Harlan incorporated aspects she appreciated about London’s traditional afternoon tea and combined them with elements from the novel, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll.
To read the rest of the article head to Phoenix New Times
