We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melissa Brewer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

My of my biggest regrets is not starting my professional culinary career earlier.

I was born with a whisk and spoon in my hand. I always cooked for myself, and found my passion for cooking as a release of sorts. I was scared to turn my joy of cooking into a serious job prospect. After years of working front of house positions I witnessed firsthand what cooking on a line could look like. It didn’t look nice. The hours and abuse cooks and chefs received turned me off.

10 years later and I wish I would have known cooking, creating, serving would always be my calling.

Southern Tea Blooms is my artistic culinary outlet, and I am thrilled it is being well received by the community!!

Melissa , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After losing my pastry job to Covid I took a leap and started my first baking company Frosted by Melissa. In February 2021 I began making geometric heart shaped hot cocoa bombs for Valentine’s Day.

Realizing I could produce large quantities of these interactive drinks in these commercial kitchens I knew I had to change the business. Not to hot cocoa bombs though. I needed a product I could also sell during spring and summer as well.

After researching different mediums I stumbled across a beet derivative sugar that I could use to incapsulate my tea bags. Allowing me to have a product able to be served hot or iced. One of the best qualities of the beet sugar is it is diabetic friendly, and keto friendly! Inside our blooms we have our house blended teas, edible glitter, and a botanical that will float to the surface after the shell is melted. During the colder seasons we also have available our chocolate shelled tea blooms, filled with mini marshmallows and seasonal tea flavors!!

We are a small business striving to give good vibes and great drinks to our community! Please like and follow us
On Facebook @southernteablooms and on Instagram @southern_tea_blooms.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Southern Tea Blooms quickly became my full time job. Almost every Saturday our customers can find us at Uptown Market. Whenever possible I will travel to Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach during the week to participate in local markets.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of the smallest decisions I made for our tents aesthetic turned out to be one of the best. After late night shopping I purchased a humble bubble machine. That little bubble machine brings the most joy to children, and adults alike. Dogs even get in on the action! I will have people tell me they were specificity coming to me because they were determined to find the source of the bubbles. The sales I have received from mere soap and water is astonishing. I will always bring the bubbles with me, the smiles and giggles keep me going!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @southern_tea_blooms
• Facebook: @southernteablooms