Anyone who knows me knows I have a major sweet tooth. I love all things sweet such as boba, strawberry matcha, cakes and anything chocolate flavored. Thankfully, Tucson has a wide variety of locally owned dessert shops that shouldn’t be missed. Here are some of my favorites:

Chez Peachy

A shop with all things pink and trendy with Instagram-worthy treats? Chez Peachy has it all! Chez Peachy is located on the intersection of Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue, just a few steps away from the Sunlink stop. Their cakes are irresistible, and the flavor of the cake melts in your mouth. My favorite cake flavor is the strawberry, which contains fresh strawberries inside. I always feel sad whenever I have to ruin the cute image on top of the cake. Their drink, Strawberry Shortcake, is strawberry milk with sweet foam on top. It tastes exactly like ice cream, and it’s everything you could want in a creamy, fruity drink. 

Ni Hao Tea

Ni Hao Tea has all the things one would want in a boba shop. The environment is warm and relaxing, and there are unlimited combinations of drinks to choose from. My favorite drink combination is chocolate milk tea with lychee jelly. I’m not a fan of chocolate on its own, but the chocolate flavor is perfectly encapsulated in this drink. The added jelly toppings also add to the burst of flavor, which makes the drink on its own two treats in one! If you order their boba slushies, they come with a fun cat cup, which is perfect for snapping pictures in front of their wall of leaves and neon logo sign. Ni Hao has two locations in Tucson, one on Broadway Boulevard and one on Campbell Avenue.

HeeMee Bakery

HeeMee is a Japanese bakery that specializes in unique pastries and their one stop breakfast shop. I always see their treats on Instagram, and it makes me want to come by even more. My favorite combination from here is the chocolate croissant and iced chai latte. Their chocolate croissant comes dusted with powdered sugar and topped with fruit, which adds to the decadent taste. I’m also a fan of chai lattes, and theirs has a unique spice to it. I don’t like spicy flavors, but this one was just right. The chai latte was sweet, creamy and surprisingly savory! Heemee Bakery is located next to the Broadway and Stone Sunlink Stop.

Screamery Ice Cream

If you’re lactose intolerant like me, this place is for you! A locally owned ice cream shop in Tucson, they make and pasteurize their ice cream on site. They have lots of options to choose from, and their prices are unbeatable. I love their cookie dough flavor; it’s rich and tasty, and it’s made from scratch! Who wouldn’t love homemade ice cream? All of their ice cream flavors are worth trying, with almost all of them having real ingredients inside. Screamery Ice Cream has locations all across Tucson, but one is located nearby the Congress Street and Sixth Avenue Sunlink Stop.

Marymar Raspados

I’ve been going to Marymar Raspados ever since I was in kindergarten, and their nostalgic flavor never fails. They have lots of classic Mexican treats like raspados, tostilocos, fresas con crema and so much more. My favorite treat is a strawberry raspado with vanilla ice cream and lechera, which is strawberry shaved ice topped with ice cream and condensed milk. It’s what I’ve been getting for many years, and no other location can do this combination justice. This location is a bit of a drive at 4764 S. Sixth Ave., but the trip will be well worth it.

With Tucson being known for its stellar list of local restaurants to try out, the dessert selection is no exception. These shops are guaranteed to never disappoint, and they have a wide selection of options to choose from. There’s always something for everyone, from sundaes to peppermint mochas to mango slush with lychee jelly. Open up your palette and try out these places today!

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Isabel Vidrio is a junior with a major in journalism and a minor in public health. She is also a part of UnderSkore, the University of Arizona’s first official K-pop dance team. Her interests include music, anime, video games and pop culture.