🎵 Now Playing: “Good Days” – SZA
I’m the friend always thinking of fun things to do so I decided that we needed a new way to explore Baltimore, so I created a matcha crawl! Matcha has always been one of my favorite drinks since I was a barista at Starbucks in 2015, and with new matcha spots popping up around the city, I thought it would be fun to grab my friends and see how many places we could try in one day. Our first stop was Sistah’s Sweets on St. Paul Street, and considering how the rest of the day went, I guess I should say it was our only stop!
Sistah’s Sweets is a Black-owned business owned by sisters Erin and Lena Bowman. I first heard about them a few years ago when their cupcake flavors went viral on Instagram and people throughout Baltimore were talking about their desserts. I’ve been meaning to try them ever since, so when I saw that they had added matcha to their menu, I knew it was finally time. It only took me a few years to get there, but hey, I made it!
The shop had a welcoming atmosphere, although we definitely walked into the middle of the morning rush. There were customers coming in and out while the sisters and their team worked to keep everything moving. I ordered the mango sticky rice matcha, and as a self-proclaimed matcha girly, I can confirm that it was GOOD! I would absolutely order it again, and I definitely plan on coming back because I still need to try their famous cupcakes and other desserts.
But Sistah’s Sweets is about much more than cupcakes and matcha. Erin and Lena have built a business that reflects their creativity and their commitment to their community. The sisters have backgrounds in both music and writing, and they have performed for congressmen, senators, and other dignitaries. They have also been recognized through writing competitions, appeared on local television and radio programs, and have used their platform to encourage other young women and aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their own dreams. One of their coolest accomplishments has to be providing cupcakes for the White House in 2022 for the confirmation of the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. That’s a pretty incredible journey from a local Baltimore cupcake business to having your desserts served at the White House!
And the sisters aren’t finished there. They also cater events, sell their cupcakes and desserts from their truck, and offer something I honestly thought only existed in movies: singing telegrams! Since both sisters are singers, they can bring their musical talents directly to someone’s celebration. I love discovering businesses that offer something you wouldn’t necessarily expect. What I appreciate most about businesses like Sistah’s Sweets is that their success isn’t separated from their community. The sisters have made it a point to give back, including feeding people experiencing homelessness in Baltimore City, participating in international mission trips, and encouraging other young women to embrace confidence and pursue their God-given dreams. Their business is clearly about more than making money; it’s also about creating opportunities and inspiring other people.
After we got our drinks, my friends and I got so caught up talking that we completely lost track of our plans. We failed at the crawl aspect of today’s event but we did accomplish something and I’m the most happy about that. The entire point of the crawl was to spend time together while exploring Baltimore, and we definitely accomplished the first part! So the matcha crawl is officially unfinished business. My next stop needs to be Let’s Tea on Baltimore Street, which has been on my list to try. Maybe next time we’ll actually make it past stop number one… but no promises!
Signed, A Baltimore Native
