The People Behind the Magic at JP: Meet Pilar

Hi Pilar! How long have you worked for The Jasmine Pearl?

Since the end of April 2016

What do you do there? What does a typical day look like for you?

I mainly work in the retail shop, serving samples, steeping drinks, and filling orders. I recently started to do a bit of the shipping for retail web orders as well!

What attracted you to the world of tea? Tell us about the moment tea became special to you?

There has just always been tea in my homes, I grew up with my mom always making sun tea and us having various herbal blends before bed. And now as an adult I’ve never lived in a house that didn’t have an abundance of tea. I think it became special to me when it turned into beautiful bonding moments between my roommates and I, staying up and drinking cup after cup having deep conversations

What are your top 5 favorite teas at The Jasmine Pearl?

It’s really tough to choose just 5, especially because my palate has been changing constantly since working here. But some that are my absolute go-to's are Assam, Ginger Queen, Kyushu Sencha, Royal Oolong, and Golden Needles.

If you were a tea, what would you be and why?

I would probably be an Oolong, I tend to be a bit more closed off in the beginning of any relationship but if given the time and patience I open up and reveal different sides of myself….much like the unfurling leaf of an oolong.

Tell a fun fact about yourself. What are your hobbies outside of work?

I’m slowly but surely starting my journey of being a small business owner, called Pilar’s Peaceful Pillows! I make pillows stuffed with herbs in hopes to aid various ailments. If I’m not at work you can usually find me talking/dancing with my plants, hiking to a waterfall, lake, or mountain summit, writing, reading, or making something out of nothing.

Tell us about a tea mishap or your proudest moment with tea.

My tea mishap would probably be making tea at home and scalding my mouth so bad that I spit my tea everywhere….this has happened on multiple occasions throughout the years. I’ve gotten better though! I’m going to also say my proud moments with tea are when I can share my new tea knowledge with customers and excite them about a tea they weren’t that interested in.

Where is your dream location to have a cup of tea and who would you like to share it with?

Last summer I drank tea on the summit of Mt. Whitney during sunrise with my sister, Savannah…that made me want to drink tea on top of all the tallest mountain summits that I can make it to and Sav would definitely be there next to me to share it.

What is your favorite way to brew tea? What teaware do you use at home?

I really enjoy using the gaiwans that we use at the sample bar but at home I use a For Life Tea Pot or the beautiful kyusu pot that Chuck and Heather gave to me.