Maria Uspenski

Maria Uspenski is the founder and CEO of The Tea Spot, a women-run certified B-Corp whose mission is to fuel wellness and happiness by making tea an everyday luxury. A mechanical engineer by training and social entrepreneur by calling, she holds three U.S. patents for her Steepware® innovations that make loose leaf tea easy and accessible.

After her own cancer journey, Maria turned her lifelong love of tea—rooted in her Russian heritage and deepened during her time studying in Paris—into both a personal and professional calling. What began as a source of comfort became a mission to share wellness with others. Now, her two daughters, Laura and Anna, work alongside her at The Tea Spot, where 10% of all profits are donated to wellness nonprofits supporting vital causes around the globe.

A leading voice in the modern tea movement, Maria’s work has been featured in many media publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Denver Post, as well as national television networks. She is also the author of 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die (2025), a global journey through the world’s most remarkable teas, and the best-selling Cancer Hates Tea (2016).

Maria lives in Colorado with her husband, Don, where she finds daily inspiration in her business, great tea, outdoor adventures, and their ever-curious husky.