Emma Canoles shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Emma, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Recently, I was honored to win the Baltimore Sun Reader’s Choice Award, which was such a proud moment for me. This award is especially meaningful because it’s decided by community votes. It makes me feel deeply grateful to be recognized by the people I serve every day.
I’m proud not only to represent Baltimore, but also to be part of a wider resurgence of tea culture across America. To be considered a spearhead in that movement, and to continue showing up as a leading contender year after year, feels both humbling and inspiring. It reminds me that the heart I pour into Emma’s Tea Spot is being felt and celebrated.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Emma Canoles, the owner of Emma’s Tea Spot, a British-style teashop in Baltimore. We’ve become known for serving not just tea, but a whole experience — a warm, welcoming space where people can gather, celebrate, and slow down.
What makes us unique is the way we root our work in nature. We raise our own chickens, keep an apiary, and I bring my background as a forager and horticulturist into everything we do. My main aim is to reintroduce people to their relationship with nature and the earth. When we become more mindful of that relationship, we deepen our connection to the planet and step more fully into our ordained role as custodians of it.
At Emma’s Tea Spot, food is medicine. By eating locally and sourcing sustainably, we not only impact the world around us, but also nurture our inner environment. From authentic British counter-service favorites to herbal blends, themed community events, and storybook-inspired décor, every detail is designed to honor both tradition and creativity.
Right now, we’re in an exciting stage of growth — expanding into a second location and weaving in new offerings like tea & tarot, seasonal rituals, and community gatherings. At the heart of it all, my goal is to keep honoring the timeless ritual of tea while sparking something fresh, grounded, and meaningful for Baltimore and beyond.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Growing up, I looked up to my brother — he became a celebrity — and was an all round popular guy, so I naturally learned to use my own power to be in a supportive role to others,, to let them shine. My mother cared for her younger siblings from a young age and I learned domestic skills and looking after others was expected. I however longed and thrived in leadership but rarely actualized it and became more comfortable with behind the scenes work.
I had many gifts, from channeling and energetic fieldwork to holistic preparations, but they felt unusual or unconventional, so I kept them hidden. I became the bridge. And while being a bridge can be beautiful, I’ve realized that if you don’t honor your own gifts, you risk letting others simply walk on you.
Now, I’ve stepped into authenticity. I no longer carry imposter syndrome about being a manager, an owner, a CEO, a director, or a franchise-builder, or a spiritual leader, life coach and herbalist. I’ve learned that not only can I do those things, but I can do them exceptionally well — and help others do the same.
The hardships I’ve walked through — building a brand-new business from scratch on my own, raising children while running a shop, giving birth to my son at 42, living as an Englishwoman abroad, and navigating how it all impacts family life — have forged resilience. They’ve taught me to let go of old patterns, to stop dimming my light for others, and to stand in my sovereignty.
What I release now is the tendency to hide my gifts. What I embrace is the knowledge that what I carry is rich, deep, and meant to be shared. I’m no longer afraid to take center stage, fly my flag, speak with authority, and lead. That is my gift to the community: not just tea, but truth, connection, and the courage to shine.”
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Something I miss that no one else really knows about is companionship. Leaving my family behind, I’ve often carried a sense of not fully belonging anywhere. I’ve had to grow into choosing myself, belonging to myself, and honoring myself, and while that work has made me strong, it’s also been hard.
I’ve always dreamed of a small family, a cottage, a garden, and a true companion — someone I could talk to all day and night, someone who could be that safe place for me to soften and unfold. In reality, much of my life has been about being the center of responsibility — for my children, my family, and my business. It has forged resilience, but sometimes I deeply miss having someone to lean on, the way I so often support others.
That longing shows up in my work too. At Emma’s Tea Spot, what I want more than anything is to create a community of true companions — loyal, dedicated people who grow alongside me, who feel supported and valued, and who bring their hearts into the space we’re building. At the end of the day, what I miss is not being an island. And what I hope for, both in life and in business, is to be part of something where everyone — myself included — can feel safe, connected, and truly at home.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the food and beverage industry tells itself is that faster, cheaper, and more convenient is what people truly want. In reality, what people crave is connection, nourishment, and meaning. A cup of tea isn’t just a beverage — it’s a ritual, a pause, a way of caring for the body and soul.
Another lie is that small, independent businesses can’t compete with chains. In truth, independents are where the innovation, authenticity, and heart live. We’re the ones raising chickens in our backyards, tending to apiaries, foraging herbs, and bringing that story directly to the table. Customers feel that difference — they know when something has integrity, when it’s made with love and respect for the earth.
There’s also the lie that you have to work yourself to the bone day and night to be successful. That isn’t true. At the same time, you also can’t sit back and expect things to land in your lap. Success comes from directed, consistent daily effort — with clear goals and action plans to bring them to life.
And finally, the idea of competition itself is a lie. I don’t believe in it. There is only collaboration. While they may carry a similar energy, the intent behind them is worlds apart — one builds walls, the other builds bridges. I don’t see the resurgence of tea as competition, because I believe in my product deeply. If people find me, if they walk through our doors, I trust that I’ll capture them for life — not through pressure or rivalry, but through connection and care.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
What I’m doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years is building legacy. At Emma’s Tea Spot, that means creating something that will last far beyond the daily transactions — nurturing a business model rooted in sustainability, integrity, and community care. We raise chickens, tend bees, and forage herbs not because it’s the quickest way to profit, but because it cultivates a healthier, more mindful ecosystem that will ripple outward for years to come.
COVID really did a number on everyone, and the current political and economic climate has made everything so expensive that people are rarely leaving their homes or indulging in anything beyond what’s cheap. But cheap decisions — big portions, low-quality ingredients — are costing people their health. Part of my 7–10 year vision is to keep offering an alternative: food and hospitality that heal rather than harm.
On a personal level, I want to pay off the debt we accumulated during COVID. You won’t keep me down — rack the challenges up again, and I’ll rise again. My goal is to finally buy a small holiday home — not a big house, but a modest space that can grow into a retirement haven, somewhere our children and future grandchildren can gather.
On the business side, the long-term plan is franchising. During COVID, we flat-packed the business: we kept our license current, created procedures and policies, and built a system that can scale. My vision is to evolve Emma’s Tea Spot into something people not only want to visit, but want to own. In 7–10 years, I want to have four franchises and a million dollars in the bank.
First comes paying off the COVID debt. Then comes evolving the experience so that it’s not only something people pay for, but something they fall in love with — a model that’s desirable, sustainable, and expansive. That’s the work I’m doing now. So watch this space.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emmasteaspot.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/emmasteaspot/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-canoles-a24a94207/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmasteaspot/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/emmas-tea-spot-baltimore?osq=Emma%27s+Tea+Spot
