Michael Ortiz is a tea master who was introduced to Taiwanese gongfu tea at a small Buddhist temple in Miami called Zen Village in 2009. Over the next few years, tea snuck into his life and took on greater and greater significance as a practice. One day his teacher at Zen Village brewed a particularly tasty tea called Oriental Beauty. The moment he tasted it, he decided he would dedicate the rest of his life to sharing tea. With his company Jojo Tea, he works dozens of food and beverage outlets to elevate their tea programs by curating appropriate menus and training staff. By doing so, he has developed a proven track record of helping operators multiply their volume of tea sales and customize their margins. He also has a small tea room in Miami, Florida where he offers private tastings and tea ceremonies educating the public on the magic of teas. Ortiz was the winner of America’s first Tea Master’s Cup in 2019.