Our Story
Family Owned and Created
We are the Masers. Carol and Ralph (mom and dad) started Maser Industries, LLC. as a co-packing manufacturing facility in 2008 in Stilwell, Kansas. Over the course of 15+ years, the business was mainly just them while their kids (Shannon and Mac) occasionally helped at The Lab, which is what we call the business, while they finished school and pursued other passions. Alongside the usual business of manufacturing, Ralph and Shannon had a passion for developing new products and making healthy alternatives to current products on the market. And in that intersection, ThirsTea was born.
About ThirsTea
ThirsTea was developed in 2019 after a trip to a local grocery store and a walk down the energy drink aisle. After seeing every option be some version of high sugar, artificial dyes and flavors, preservatives, and ingredients our bodies were not created to digest or use for our benefit, Ralph decided it was time to make a better option.
ThirsTea was originally called FeisTea and it was 300mg of caffeine per serving 😅 It was also originally going to be marketed to the disc golf community because that's Mac's main hobby and passion. When COVID hit, everything took a backseat and ThirsTea was just a treat the family and other employees enjoyed at the lab. Finally, six years after it's creation, Mac decided to bring it to the market. If you want the 300mg version, let us know and maybe we'll make it happen 🤔
Where We Are Now
Mac joined the business full time in 2020 and in September of 2021, Mac married his wife Hannah. The month after the wedding, Ralph was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. Glioblastoma patients on average live 12 to 18 months after diagnosis and Ralph really said "that's not my story" and is alive and kickin' today. Mac and Hannah have a growing family down the road in Lawrence, Kansas where Mac is still into disc golf and really into being a dad. Mac is in charge of all the manufacturing we do so if you have an issue with your product, take it up with him 😉
Shannon joined the business full time in 2023 and has created products of her own, including a Tallow Balm called Talchemy and starting an Etsy shop! She now lives in San Diego and does most of the online work for the business like marketing and expansion.
While Ralph has taken a backseat in the business, Carol is the glue that holds us together. She handles all of our administrative work and is Ralphs main care-giver. They love being grandparents and working with their kids.
Every purchase that's made supports us and our families, so thank you for your support! We hope we are giving you a product that you love 💙