Laura Hodges may have been born and raised in England, but The Tea Room she is opening in Catonsville will offer a contemporary tea experience with a unique and carefully curated twist.
“I was born in northern England and spent many summers with our extended family, including my grandparents, and close family friends,” Hodges told Baltimore Fishbowl. “Tea is such an integral part of everyday life in England, and my family has continued that custom here in America. While I love a traditional British afternoon tea, I have always enjoyed exploring a wide range of teas and how they’re served throughout the world.”
Hodges is an interior designer by trade, and The Tea Room is an extension of Laura Hodges Studio, also on Frederick Road in Catonsville. She and her husband, Tim, will operate The Tea Room together with the help of their tea curator, Adam.
“I designed the seating area to feel like an intimate European cafe with a Tea Bar that feels like you’re visiting someone’s home,” Laura Hodges said. “The tea tastings are similar to a wine tasting where you learn the subtleties and nuances of tea, and the seated service is a chance to connect with old and new friends alike. We wanted this space to feel welcoming, approachable and thoroughly relaxing.”
The Signature Tea Service is a 90-minute experience with a guided tasting of a flight of three specialty loose-leaf teas. The menu of teas will rotate and be selected seasonally, and Adam Holland will guide people through what they are tasting, from the geographic origin of each tea to its aroma, color, and flavor. He encourages questions, tells stories, and explores traditions associated with tea drinking with the customers.
After learning about the three different teas from Holland, the customer may then select a flavor from the full collection for their own personal pot of tea. As they enjoy their tea, they are brought a progression of small bites like pastries or scones, all from local partners. These are served one at a time, rather than the traditional tiered trays of sandwiches and sweets. Accompaniments may include jams, honeys, and butters, also all locally sourced. Hodges hopes her guests enjoy slowing down, connecting, and finding comfort in something as simple as an excellent tea in a pretty porcelain cup.
The 90-minute experience is by reservation only, and the space is intentionally limited to no more than six guests per session. Customers do not need to have six people in their party, however, to book a reservation. Book a reservation for any number of people from one up to six. Even if only two people have booked a session, those experiences will go forward. The Tea Room will not cancel a person’s session because it has not been fully booked. Kelley Heuisler, director of marketing and brand for both Laura Hodges Studio and The Tea Room is happy to report that interest has been high.
“It’s been crazy to kind of see because we opened up reservations on Friday, and we’ve sold out of so many sessions already,” Heuisler told Baltimore Fishbowl.
Heuisler said they have had several test weekends with friends and family during which they received excellent feedback on what works well and what can improve. Then there will be two weekends of soft opening on the weekends of Sept. 11 and Sept. 18. After a break of a few weeks (Holland is getting married!) the grand opening will take place on Oct. 15.
The long-term plan for The Tea Room is to only be open on the weekends, while Hodges continues her work as an interior designer. Tea flavors and menu items will always be rotating, so they hope even returning customers will have a new experience each time.
“Our family has lived here in Catonsville since 2012, and we love the historic feel and strong sense of community,” Hodges told Baltimore Fishbowl. “It’s been my lifelong dream to have a small cafe and Catonsville felt like the perfect place to bring The Tea Room to life.”
