CYBERJAYA: What began as a humble RM 1 cup of tea sold in a campus kiosk has blossomed into a ground-breaking Malaysian innovation: the world’s first halal sterilised masala tea in a can.
Gisnervern Arikrishnan, a 31-year-old Multimedia University (MMU) alumnus and current MBA student, is the founder of the Leafhaus brand. He launched the canned masala tea after two years of research and development, blending cultural heritage with modern convenience.
Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, Gisnervern began selling hot masala tea for RM 1 per cup to students on his campus. He noticed something important: in Malaysia’s hot climate, many of his peers preferred cold drinks. To meet this demand, he experimented, eventually developing a formula for canned masala tea made with sterilised milk and traditional spices.
Perfecting the recipe was not easy. Gisnervern said his team tried 16 different drink formulations before arriving at the right balance of flavour, health, and shelf life. The result is a ready-to-serve masala tea that stays fresh without refrigeration, offering a halal-certified alternative to traditional milk teas.
The official launch took place on 16 October 2025 at MMU’s Entrepreneur Development Centre in Cyberjaya. The event, called “An Alumni’s Dream,” saw support from university leaders and business partners.
Gisnervern drew inspiration from Tony Fernandes’ “RM1 dream,” saying: “Tan Sri proved that a Malaysian dream can fly. I wanted to show that a Malaysian taste can travel just as far.” The Leafhaus team is in talks with AirAsia to offer their Masala Tea (and Turmeric Milk) on selected flights, a move that would bring this Malaysian flavour to the skies.
Additionally, Leafhaus is exploring a partnership with BananaBro, a banana-leaf restaurant chain, to make these heritage drinks more accessible via its outlets.
Gisnervern’s journey to entrepreneurship was deeply personal. Once weighing 138 kg, he transformed his health and used that experience to build a product that’s low in sugar and rich in antioxidants.
Because the tea is sterilised and canned, it has a long shelf life and doesn’t need constant refrigeration, making it both practical and scalable. ʻLeafhaus’ halal masala teaʼ seeks to tap both traditional tea lovers and modern consumers looking for convenience.
This innovation reflects a growing trend in Malaysia: blending cultural legacy with cutting-edge food tech. For context, traditional Southeast Asian milk tea, like teh tarik and masala chai, has deep roots in everyday street culture.
Leafhaus’s success could inspire other young entrepreneurs to transform familiar, beloved flavors into products suited for global markets.
