If you’ve ever curled your hands around a steaming cup of tea and wondered about the story behind the leaves, 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die: The Ultimate Bucket List for the World’s Most Popular Beverage is your new bedside companion. This beautifully curated guide, co-authored by global tea luminaries Nigel Melican, James Norwood Pratt, Maria Uspenski, and Shabnam Weber, is both a sensory adventure and a deep dive into one of humanity’s oldest—and most beloved—rituals.
From the first page, the book welcomes readers with a warm invitation: there’s no wrong way to drink tea, only the right way for you. This inclusive, nonjudgmental tone runs through every chapter, making it as suitable for newcomers as it is for connoisseurs. The authors have collectively steeped decades of expertise into this volume—Melican’s technical precision, Pratt’s lyrical historical insights, Uspenski’s innovation, and Weber’s global leadership in tea education blend seamlessly to create a guide that’s as educational as it is enchanting. When I travelled to China, we visited a tea plantation where we were schooled in the development of tea plants, a tasting by a tea guru and interacted with the owners. An enlightening experience!
Organized into ten chapters, the book travels through tea’s six archetypal styles—green, black, oolong, white, yellow, and dark—before exploring classics, health-focused blends, and modern innovations like Cheese Tea and bottled matcha. Each featured tea includes tasting notes from all four authors, offering a layered, sometimes contrasting view that highlights tea’s wonderfully subjective nature. This format mirrors the experience of sipping tea among friends—no two palates are the same, and that’s part of the joy.
Included in the book are a few recipes to stretch your tea presentations. Try the Spiced Apple Latte in our Recipe section – perfect for a cool evening or for your next soiree! While sipping on your latte, pre-order a copy of this book (release date Nov 25) for the tea lover on your Christmas gift list at https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/101-teas-to-steep-before-you-die-the-ultimate-bucket-list-for-the-worlds-most-popular-beverage/e92cd57c-9fb5-335b-9db0-51f39f4ba445.html or win a copy in our Giveaway section.
Beyond the tea profiles, the book shines in its storytelling. Historical vignettes—like Penelope Barker’s revolutionary Edenton Tea Party or the pioneering women behind The Tea Studio in India—show how tea has long been intertwined with culture, politics, and empowerment. The lush photography and thoughtful design make it as much a coffee-table keeps ake as a practical guide.
A standout voice in the book is Shabnam Weber, President of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada (THAC). Under Weber’s leadership since 2018, THAC has become a global authority on tea education and sustainability, best known for its acclaimed Tea Sommelier® certification program. The association plays a vital role in promoting high standards of quality and knowledge within Canada’s thriving tea culture while advocating for the industry internationally. https://www.tea.ca/
Weber’s vision extends beyond national borders. She co-founded the International Alliance for Women in Tea, an organization dedicated to empowering women across the global tea supply chain. From tea pluckers in Assam to entrepreneurs in Toronto, the Alliance fosters mentorship, inclusivity, and sustainability in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. This spirit of collaboration infuses 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die, where stories of women-led innovation—like India’s female-run Tea Studio—celebrate diversity and resilience in the world of tea. https://womenoftea.org/
101 Teas to Steep Before You Die is far more than a list—it’s a love letter to tea in all its forms. Each page honors the leaf’s ability to bridge continents, connect communities, and nourish body and soul. Whether you’re a tea bag loyalist or a loose-leaf purist, this book invites you to expand your palate and your perspective.
Pour yourself a cup, open this book, and prepare to travel the world—one steep at a time.
Content and images used with permission from 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die by Nigel Melican, James Norwood Pratt, Maria Uspenski, and Shabnam Weber. Page Street Publishing. 2025. Photo credit: Brayden Heath. www.pagestreetpublishing.com