At Ahista, we believe that every celebration begins with a gesture—something small, meaningful, and crafted with care. This spring, we had the privilege of creating custom tea bag pouches for the wedding of Mariah and Rahul, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Portugal’s coast. Thoughtfully infused with our signature Masala Chai, this project was a celebration of love, culture, and the comfort of shared rituals.

A Wedding Rooted in Story

Rahul, the founder of Rasa, a celebrated South Asian restaurant in Washington, D.C., has long been a friend and supporter of Ahista. Known for his thoughtful approach to food, culture, and community, it was no surprise that his wedding to Mariah would be filled with intention and warmth.

When the couple reached out to us to craft a tea-based element for their wedding celebration, we were honored. They envisioned a keepsake that their guests could enjoy long after the festivities—a reminder of the weekend, and of the story they were building together. Naturally, tea was the answer.

The Signature Blend: Masala Chai

For the tea itself, we chose our Masala Chai—a blend rooted in heritage and crafted with balance and depth. Bold Assam black tea is layered with traditional Indian spices like cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. It’s a blend that’s warm and familiar, yet elevated—just like the couple’s celebration.

Masala Chai is more than just a beverage. It is, in many ways, a ritual—one that connects people across kitchens and continents. In selecting this blend, Mariah and Rahul wanted to offer their guests a sensory experience that reflected both tradition and modernity. A moment of stillness in a cup. A way to remember the joy, laughter, and beauty of the wedding day.

Designed with Intention

We worked closely with the couple’s planning team to create custom tea bag pouches that aligned with the aesthetic of the wedding—modern yet warm, minimal but meaningful. Inspired by the serene tones of the Portuguese landscape and the soft palette of the wedding, the pouches featured elegant calligraphy and a subtle gold foil accent.

Each pouch contained a biodegradable pyramid tea bag—designed to preserve the integrity of the loose-leaf blend while offering convenience for guests. The tag featured the couple’s initials in a monogram style, while the reverse side carried a simple message: “Brewed with love in Portugal. Thank you for being part of our journey.”

We opted for FSC-certified paper stock and soy-based inks to remain aligned with Ahista’s sustainability commitments. The final result was a keepsake that balanced beauty and thoughtfulness—easily tucked into a suitcase, slipped into a journal, or steeped on a quiet morning once guests returned home.

Tea as a Cultural Thread

The decision to include Masala Chai at the wedding wasn’t just about flavor—it was about culture and memory. Rahul’s culinary journey with Rasa has been built on celebrating the flavors of his heritage, and Mariah, too, has embraced the stories and traditions that come with it. Tea, particularly chai, is a thread that runs through both everyday rituals and milestone celebrations in South Asian life.

Whether served during family gatherings, shared in silence, or offered as a gesture of hospitality, chai represents warmth, care, and togetherness. To weave that into a wedding weekend felt especially fitting.

A Gesture That Lasts Beyond the Day

Weddings are filled with fleeting moments: a glance, a toast, a dance. But what lingers are the small touches that guests carry with them—physical or emotional souvenirs of the day.

Custom tea pouches offer a gentle, tactile way to extend the feeling of the wedding long after the last song. They aren’t loud or flashy. Instead, they speak softly: a blend that says thank you, a pouch that invites pause, a cup that remembers.

For Mariah and Rahul’s guests, we hope that steeping a cup of Masala Chai now becomes a ritual of memory—of Portugal, of celebration, and of a love story told with authenticity and care.

Crafting for the Moment

At Ahista, we are honored to be a small part of people’s most important days. Whether it’s a wedding, a birth, a new beginning, or a heartfelt thank-you—we see tea as a way to mark time, to bring people closer, and to turn even the simplest moments into something special.

Creating these custom tea bag pouches for Mariah and Rahul was not only a creative joy, but a reminder of why we do what we do. Because in every blend, there’s a story. And every story deserves a beautiful beginning.