Pillion Tea — Restaurant in Baltimore

I wish I didn't work night shift so much, otherwise I'd come here more often. It's a unique hole in the wall location, a rare find in Baltimore that everyone should go to for tea. Super zen place with enough seating and internet is available for customers, I think. Staff also very friendly, informative, and patient - they had great calm energy. They sell vegan desserts and snacks, but not made in house - I think they have a partnership with a bakery. Absolutely amazing tea - if you like variety, this is the place. They have a rotating menu of seasonal drinks, and this time they had Sakura themed drinks and I had to try the Matcha Amazake soda after I saw it on their Instagram (see the two toned drink below). So delicious and refreshing - not as sweet as I thought it would be. My friends both got the Salted Sakura drink, served hot, and it was very pleasant and also very visually appealing. High quality, clear flavors in their tea, cannot...

I thought I knew a lot about tea, but the owners are true experts. They can explain the unique terroir of each one, the history, how to best prepare it- even how to develop a better palate so you can taste all the different notes you may be missing. "Ummm okay cool, but I'm not obsessed with tea"- well, you might be redpilled after coming here.

Besides for all the knowledge about classic teas, they're also pretty creative. I don't mean Starbucks knockoffs, or a drink that's relying on two drops of a quirky Monin syrup to do the heavy lifting. But seasonal, unique, layered flavors from in-house syrups/compotes/etc. Some of my favorites I can recall are a matcha (yes they have the GOOD matcha) soda with violet and lemon, hojicha latte with autumn-spiced squash compote, and a white tea soda with yam compote/vanilla/black pepper. I'm not in the area so often anymore, but it's always a nice pick-me-up to stop by and see what they've...

I've come in a few times now, and I've always been met with smiles and welcoming service. I often have trouble finding spots around town that fit my tea needs, but Pillion really has become the tea shop that Mount Vernon needs. They have a robust variety of teas to suit every tea desire I could possibly have, and I'm sure what anyone else could have too. And it's easy to take the tea home that you love the most, as they sell it by the ounce. They make wonderful suggestions to tea newcomers and have a nice specialty board that really shows the creative talent of the two owners. Fabulous...