Attending the Specialty Tea Institute Level 3 Pu'erh course in San Francisco. Phil Parda from Savvy Tea Gourmet in Madison, Connecticut expertly taught the course.

I first met Phil in 2008 at the Durham Fair in Connecticut, when I was visiting my parents nearby. At his tea exhibit, he educated customers about every aspect of tea: where tea is from, how it's made, what the different varieties are, and how best to brew. I was instantly inspired, signing up for courses with the Specialty Tea Institute and then later with the Dongfang Guoyi tea school in Beijing.