Crystallization phenomena hold much potential for demonstrating many concepts such as thermodynamics, kinetics, electrostatic forces, geometric packing efficiencies, and chemical bonding environments. However, crystal chemistry is often underrepresented in the undergraduate laboratory because of extended time needed to synthesize and specialized equipment to characterize. We demonstrate the use of the isolated droplet (aqueous or oil droplets with tens to hundreds micron diameter) as picoliter- or nano-liter sized “test tubes” to initiate and monitor crystallization. Our novel system is based on the micropipette manipulation technique in combination with digital video microscopy. Typically, we observe that as an aqueous droplet containing solute of interest becomes dewatered by surrounding oil, solute is concentrated to eventually reach the critical saturation level for crystallization. The overall process takes seconds to minutes with an ability to control the speed (and degree) of dewatering process upon the choice of oil. Formation of each of the various crystal types (molecular, covalent-network, ionic and metallic) and growth rate can be observed in real time. In addition, the growth of a crystal can be modified with additives which influence morphological change in the crystal structure by inhibiting particular crystal faces through molecular specific interactions.