The brick paved roads of downtown Fort Myers are home to an array of eclectic boutiques and restaurants. Up the spiral iron staircase, within the Franklin Shops downtown, one can now fi nd Tea Largo. This tea shop has the feel of a hipster tea nirvana one would stumble upon in Brooklyn, but with the color infl uences of Florida’s oceans.
Owner Shelly Blunt says, “We’re bringing tea to a new generation in a contemporary form.”
While Tea Largo offers traditional hot tea, it prides itself on bubble teas, Teaki Bars, Iced Toddy’s, and Acai Bowls.
Iced Toddy’s are not to be mistaken for a typical iced coffee. Instead, Tea Largo uses a method of brewing coffee in-house and removing the acidity, leaving a smooth brew concentrate for all of their coffee beverages.
Tea Largo’s Acai Bowls are sworn to satisfy any hungry customer. Lining a bowl with granola and banana’s, Blunt then continues to blend frozen organic Acai berry (a Brazilian Superfruit), bananas, and organic matcha (powdered green tea) to create a thick smoothie like consistency. The bowl is then topped with your choice of organic berries, goji berries, chia seeds, cacao nibs and organic coconut. This antioxidant-powered bowl can be purchases for $6.99.
Teaki Bars are Tea Largo’s homemade ice pops from locally sourced fruits, veggies and herbs. For $3.00 you can purchase gourmet fl avored Teaki Bars such as Matcha Green Tea Latte Banana, Honey Pear Walnut and Strawberry Basil. Teaki Bars are sold in shop and at local farmers markets seasonally.
Keeping up with social media, Blunt encourages customers upload a picture of what they ordered via Instagram and Twitter, using the hashtag #TeaLargoMenu, to create a visual menu. You may also follow TeaLargoSWFL on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for their newest concoctions and promotions.
Tea Largo is the sister shop to its original location in Lakeland, Florida. Literally keeping it in the family, Blunt’s sister is the owner of Lakeland’s Tea Largo shop. With the Census Bureau estimating Lee County’s population to increase 35% within the next eight years, Blunt picked a prime time to open up shop. “It’s a fun niche up here,” says Blunt. EN Photo/ Aubrie Gerber
If You Go Where: 2200 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901 When: Mon–Thurs: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday–Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Price: $3–$8