Snapdragon Tea, a seven-minute walk from the University of New Mexico Main Campus, has a whimsical, eclectic atmosphere that matches the whimsy of its name.
Snapdragon Tea is regularly holding themed tea parties called Dog Days of Summer through Sept. 8. An overview of the event reads, “join us in a celebration of dogs, humanity’s long-time companions of more than 30,000 years.”
The phrase “dog days of summer” originates from an observation by ancient Greek and Roman people that the hottest, most humid months of the summer coincided with the rise of Sirius, the Dog Star, according to Almanac.
Snapdragon Tea hosts different themed tea parties about once a month, according to co-owner Vanessa Vesperman, and decided on this one since it had not previously held a dog-themed party.
The establishment features a free library and a community blackboard against beige and baby-blue walls.
“Our intention with Snapdragon Tea is to be a casual, fun and accessible teahouse. Those are the things we always try to hit on just in general, but also within our tea parties,” Vesperman said.
Dog Days of Summer involves an attention to detail in everything, including funny dog videos playing in the background in honor of the dog theme. The party also features iridescent teapots and sandwiches on trays.
“There’s little Easter eggs in everything,” Vesperman said.
The tea party comes with three courses of specialized menu items: an appetizer course, a savory course and a dessert course.
Items on the menu include tomato balls and mozzarella frisbees in a “puprese” salad, as well as a parfait that you have to dig through to find “toys our dog friend has buried.”
The full Dog Days of Summer experience costs $34.95 per person. But the children’s menu, for $18.50 per person, is open to “children of all ages.” This means that yes, college students count, too.
The children’s menu contains a few stars of the show like the peanut butter scone, puppy chow chili and the backyard treasure parfait.
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Snapdragon Tea also has gluten-free options and is vegan friendly, with substitutions available for every item on the tea party menu.
The business tries to support other local businesses, according to Vesperman.
“We get our teas from the New Mexico Tea Company, and we get our espresso beans, potato chips and our kombucha all from New Mexico,” Vesperman said.
Snapdragon Tea developed the herbal prickly pear tea — its signature blend — with the New Mexico Tea Company.
The teahouse offers its regular menu of food and drinks during its open hours Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Next, the business will host its Feline Frolic tea party, a cat-themed event beginning on weekends after Sept. 13.
“We’re a great place to come check out if you just need a break from classes,” Vesperman said.
Shin Thant Hlaing is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
