Angelica Lee, founder of the Chicago-based tea company Steepers Only, has expanded her at-home kitchen hobby into a growing business, according to an April 20 announcement. Lee credits her entrepreneurial spirit to her upbringing in Chicago and inspiration from her mother, who ran a post-construction cleaning business.
Lee said, “My mom inspires me and has been my biggest encouragement.” Her passion for tea began during a missionary trip to Kenya as a teenager. When she asked about the timing of tea breaks, she was told: “Every time is tea time.” This philosophy became central to Steepers Only.
Lee enrolled at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2012. She majored in Food Science and Human Nutrition and developed skills through courses such as Product Development with Dr. Dawn Bohn. “This experience inspired me and gave me the skills to start my own food business,” Lee said.
She also credited support from faculty members like Dr. Michael Miller and Meredith Blumthal for their mentorship during her studies. Lee participated in campus organizations including the Student Advancement Committee (now ACES Student Leadership Council) and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS), which helped build her confidence.
A study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic exposed Lee to banana plantations and sugar mills. “Seeing production processes firsthand was eye-opening,” said Lee. “Studying abroad was one of the most memorable moments of my collegiate journey.” The University provides more than 400 study abroad opportunities for students according to its official website.
Steepers Only partnered with HelloFresh’s Green Chef brand in January 2025 for wellness-focused bundles featuring their Chamomile Lavender blend, followed by inclusion in HelloFresh’s Black History Month box alongside other Black-owned brands.
The College allocates $3.8 million annually in scholarships according to its official website, maintains a 96% freshman retention rate with a 78% four-year graduation rate according to its official website, promotes social well-being through nutrition programs according to its official website, advances research via the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station on campus according to its official website, and aims for global impact through advancing knowledge in agriculture, consumer sciences, and environmental sciences according to its official website.
Now available in ten grocery stores across Illinois with plans for national expansion, Steepers Only continues Lee’s mission “of wellness, culture, and connection through every cup.”
