Dear Le Labo,

Thank you for introducing me to chai lattes. I remember the first time I met you: I was getting lunch with my two friends (Morgan and Roesha) and they wanted to eat lunch at a vegan restaurant. However, there are not a lot of vegan options in France. Our other friends had visited you a few days before and told us, so we decided to give it a shot. That shot was definitely worth it. For lunch I got a Buddha bowl and it came with some bread. I had never had one of those before, but it was pretty good. You also had water in Eisenhower glasses, which was very cute. Unfortunately, I had not gotten a chai latte at that moment because I didn’t know how amazing they were yet.

Morgan had gone back by herself one time and ordered a chai latte. She wouldn’t stop raving about it so I went with her the next time and got one too. It was one of the best decisions of my life. It became a weekly routine to visit you and get chai lattes while we did our work, and it was one of my favorite parts of the day. Right after school Morgan and I would walk through your large, glass doors and into a warm and cozy environment. I would gladly invite the aroma of coffee beans into my nose while my eyes adjusted to the dimmed light. I’d glance up at the menu, which resembled a periodic table, and then walk up to the barista to order. “Un chai s’il vous plait” I’d say as I hand her my four euros. She’d smile and we’d both say “merci,” and then I’d go sit at one of the wooden tables, anxiously awaiting this delicious treat.

Morgan and I began doing this little experiment where we’d get a chai latte at any place we went to, if they had them. We tried to find the best ones in Lyon, but none of them could ever beat you. Your chai’s have a perfect mix of spice and sweetness that don’t compare to anything else. I have to admit that Slake Café was a close second to you, but you remained in first place from the first day (pretty impressive).

You were a very welcoming cafe and your workers were extremely nice. I always liked ordering from you because the workers were patient with me and not rude about my beginner’s French. You were a very popular place so we had to sit in a different spot every time. Most of the other customers spoke French but we’d occasionally hear some speaking perfect English and it was very bizarre to us.

I love your vibe and I want you to know that you gave me a sense of belonging in a weird way. You were so homey and I was comfortable with you at all times. Every time I went to you I ordered a chai latte. They seemed to get better every time and I never got sick of them. The drinks weren’t just drinks, they built a bridge from my Americanness to French culture. I used my French to order one every time and sat listening to French speaking people to see if I could understand what they were talking about. You became Morgan and I’s place. One where if we were tired or stressed about school we’d go to you and everything would soon be fine. You became a familiar face in a city of the unknown and I can still picture every inch of you. You always contained delicious aromas and of course my favorite one was the chai latte. I can still feel the warm, pastel blue cup in my hand (the same cup it’s served in every time) and the sweet, but slightly spiced smell. The intricate foam design on the top of every chai is still preserved in my head. I wanted to look at it for as long as I could so I never mixed it — it was art.

So, thank you Le Labo for giving me a place I could make my own and helping me to break down my walls further. I hope to see you again one day. As for now I still can’t find a chai that beats you and I don’t think I ever will because part of the reason why the chai was so good is because I drank it in your vicinity.

Sincerely,

Eva