Craftea is a new product on the market that is revolutionizing the way tea lovers make their favorite brews created by the joint efforts of the Keshav family, in Dallas, “My mom, Pratima, has been making chai every day for as long as I can remember, and whenever she was busy doing something else the milk would boil over and make a mess,” says Marketing and Community Relations Director Jamie Patel.

Fed up with constantly having to clean the stovetop, Pratima urged her engineer husband, Jitu Keshav, to invent a product that would make hers and other tea enthusiasts’ lives easier. He got working, and three years later, there was a sleek prototype finished. Just last year, Craftea hit the market and landed first place in the 2015 World Tea Awards Best New Product at the World Tea Expo.

What the family has manifested is a convenient, clean, consistent and customizable tea experience using innovative technology that allows anyone to make a masterful cup of their favorite tea. Anyone starting up their energy efficient Craftea can heat dairy or dairy substitutes like soy and almond milk without dealing with it burning or boiling over, using a proprietary vortex rotor technology that quietly and quickly extracts flavor and shuts off automatically according to the preset. This ensures that delicate teas and herbs are perfectly extracted and chai is silky, spicy and smooth every time with no overflow.

Whether using milk or water, the device can accommodate blends of fresh or dry herbs, spices and teas, as well as floral and fruit infusions. Green tea, black tea, oolong, white tea and quick chai presets are programmed for ease of use. People can also get creative and customize presets that the machine will remember for the next time.

The all-in-one product also prevents the hazard of people forgetting about boiling water and leaving the burner on, because no burner is necessary. The four-cup stainless steel jug keeps the tea hot for several hours or the jug can be placed in the refrigerator to make iced tea or a tea cocktail.

Only with loose tea can the full flavor in the leaves, herbs, flowers, fruits, roots, bark and spices be released. Many people do not gravitate toward loose teas because of the inconvenience of straining, but Craftea has a built-in strainer that allows full enjoyment of loose tea without the hassle. “Tea bags constrain leaves from fully opening, and they are often mass-produced and sit on a warehouse shelf gathering dust,” says Jamie.  “By the time the teabag makes it’s way to your cup, it has lost the majority of its flavor, aroma, essential oils and healing potential.”

Positive health effects of loose teas can include detoxification, boosted metabolism, improved digestion, enhanced immune function, anti-inflammation and reduced rate of strokes and heart attack. There is a reason why tea is the second-most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. The company also sells its own Keshav Family Masala Chai Blend, as well as a rotating seasonal blend.

This gourmet beverage maker can be used at home or in the office and is dishwasher-safe, BPA-free and looks stylish on any kitchen countertop with its sleek and compact finish.

Natural Awakenings readers receive $30 off the Craftea using the code “natural”. Get inspired with the many recipes on the company’s Facebook page. For more information, visit Craftea.com.