I had heard about Chocolatea in passing by a few friends, but never had the opportunity or gave myself time to make the short drive to the Tuscany/Caterbury neighborhood of Baltimore.  That’s actually the location.   I will always think of it as on the peripheral  to Johns Hopkins University.

Sadly, I only have a few more days to think of it as that.   For after 10 years, they will be closing their doors on November 20th.

I had mentioned to a close friend that it’s important to venture out of our usual comfortable and all-too-familiar places of Baltimore.  It’s great for our spirits, our souls, and our sanity’s to change it up as much as possible.  I’ll give some of the credit to the Supermoon.

But if I hadn’t looked up going here on this day, this experience was never going to happen.  Seriously.  That freaks me out in a way.  Fate and destiny were calling.  This one and only visit was supposed to happen today and no other time.  I love the speculation.

I’m going to project a bit here.  I’ve driven by the storefront so many times that I’ve lost count.  But I never thought anything of the location.  And not in a bad way.  It’s a habit I have.  And I would be willing to say that many of us have a way of overlooking and flying past things, entities, places, etc that are right in front of us.   I took this location for granted and now it’s being taken away before I really got the chance to fully embrace what could have been my favorite tea shop in the city.

Now I could be heaping high praise simply because the place is closing its doors.  That’s possible.  But knowing me and knowing many of my friends it’s the continued sign that times are changing and much more rapidly than I anticipated or wanted to believe.  More on that in a few.  Onto the teas, and more…

My friend and I had no idea what to expect other than it was most likely going to be cozy and feel as authentic as a cafe can be.  We were correct on both counts.

There’s less items available since they’re in the final days so I was happy and grateful to get the Peppermint Tea in honor of the holidays.   My pal ordered a chocolate peanut butter coffee.  Not tea but I think in honor of everything, exceptions for this blog can be made.

I ordered a pot and the tea press that was presented to me was a dream.   You could literally see the leaves brewing and steeping in front of your very eyes.   I got a few magical cups from it and could have made many more.  And I mean that.

This was a tea that never stood a chance.  My only wish is I could have savored it longer. And we were there over an hour but it didn’t feel like enough. Our conversation was off the charts and that only enhanced this experience.

We did order cookies to complement our cups.   A chocolate chip went with the coffee.  I got an oatmeal raisin for mine.  They were great too.  But it didn’t matter, we could have likely had any food and beverage combination and it would have been a masterpiece.  And since you asked I did get a sip of that coffee.  It was decadent.

But this is one of the many reasons why I love tea :

It hurts my heart that Chocoaltea is closing.  I can’t pretend to have any history with this place but it felt so familiar.  I felt an energy, a spirit,  connection that felt so familiar.  I don’t know where it was from but it made me sad to know the end was near.  But also there was this feeling of relief and finality that we got to experience this.  One time only is better than no time at all.

I got to meet one of the partners, Janice, as I was leaving and told her about this blog.  She could not have been more friendly.  She told me after a good 10 years it was time for a change.  I hear that.  Change can be good. Our visit to this Baltimore staple was a necessary change.  New experiences and situations is what life is all about.  I’m so thankful to have been a part of this one.

It’s not a complete goodbye.  Even though their doors are closing, you can still find them at Ejji Ramen in the Belvedere Square Market.

If you live in the area and get a chance before the 20th, go check them out.

I’m hoping this is where I get to talk about them again.  So instead of goodbye, it’s a see ya in the next life, or see ya soon!  Whichever comes first!

More holiday posts soon!

Ideen