It's been almost a year since we first announced the expected debut of bubble tea purveyor Tea & Others at 250 Divisadero St. (at Haight), formerly home to Sam's Smoke Shop.

On November 1, Tea & Others officially opened for business in the refinished, light-filled corner store between the Upper and Lower Haight.

Owner Wenjing Ou said the shop is her inaugural effort as a business owner, and that it stemmed from a personal appreciation for teas.

"My husband and I both have a great passion for tea-based drinks," she said. The pair created all the recipes for their new shop, including a novelty drink called "cake tea" — which blends an eggless cake batter (golden butter cake or strawberry cake) with milk tea.

Because Tea & Others is independently owned, Ou said, it's able to focus on high-quality ingredients — organic teas, fresh milk and real fruit instead of processed blends.

Tea & Others' offerings clock in around $5 per drink, and in addition to the cake teas, customers will find "crema teas" (made with a cream cheese foam), matcha lattes (in flavors like Oreo or strawberry), and fruit frappes.

Drinks can be made with whole, soy, or almond milk. The shop uses real cane sugar (instead of the high-fructose corn syrup favored by many boba chains), meaning that its sweetest offerings skew about 20% less sweet than other milk teas.

The shop is also tricked out with neon signs that read "Got Milk Tea?" and "Happiness Brewing" — as well as a sign featuring its mascot, a "Tea Rex."

Ou said the neighboring businesses and residents have been more than welcoming. "Everyone is very nice, and we would love to hear suggestions and comments on how they like the drinks."

For now, she said, the shop is just getting up and running, but a grand opening is in the works for January 1 or thereabouts.

Tea & Others is open on weekdays from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Thanks to tipster Erin H. for letting us know about this opening! See something interesting while you’re out and about? Text Hoodline and we’ll try to find out what’s going on: (415) 200-3233.