In our daily lives, ‘tea time’ equals ‘me time’ for some of us, while for others it may be a time to make new friends and maintain relationships; a lot can happen over a cup of tea. In your Ayurvedic journey herbal teas play a vital role, so why not customize it according to your ‘doshas’ and enjoy it by yourself or with your fellow yogis.
Here are some herbal tea recipes for each dosha.
For Vata Dosha
If you possess an unbalanced Vata dosha, you may easily become nervous and anxious, which often disturbs your sleep, you are also more vulnerable to cold temperatures. Hence if you have an unbalanced Vata dosha this is the ideal herbal tea for you.
Ginger-Cinnamon Tea
- 1/2 an inch of fresh ginger/ 1 tsp of dried ginger
- ½ an inch of cinnamon stick
- 1 cup of water
- Half a lemon
- 1 tsp of honey
How to brew?
- Boil water along with ginger and cinnamon for 10 minutes or till the water turns slightly yellow.
- Pour it in your favorite cup
- Add a dash of lemon and honey to sweeten it up.
Ginger and cinnamon are spices that warm up the body gently unlike spices such as cayenne pepper. You can also add cardamom to the above recipe to infuse a sweet taste to your tea. Reducing the intake of teas with caffeine (green tea, black tea) and substituting them for chamomile, licorice or nutmeg tea, ashwagandha will help you sleep better at night.
For Kapha Dosha
In case of an unbalanced Kapha, you may find it hard to get out of bed every morning, you may feel worn out and lethargic most of the time which can block your creative flow and energy. The following recipe may help you put a skip in your step.
Peppermint-Clove tea
- 7-10 healthy peppermint leaves
- 1 tsp of cloves, crushed
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tsp of brown sugar
How to brew?
- Wash the peppermint leaves thoroughly and add them to boiling water along with the crushed cloves
- Boil for 10 minutes for a weak brew and 20 minutes for a strong brew.
- Strain the infused water through a mesh strainer into your favorite cup.
- Sweeten the tea with some brown sugar (you can swap this for honey).
Peppermint and clove a rich in essential oils that can help invigorate your exhausted body. The other spices you can blend in are fenugreek, black pepper, and thyme which can help bring balance to Kapha dosha.
For Pitta Dosha
If your pitta is unbalanced your body produces a lot of heat, which can cause you to expel energy fast leaving you drained out soon. Hence herbal teas that soothe you and cool you down are the best choice, so try out the following recipe and see if it works for you.
Lemongrass- fennel tea
- 2 blades of lemongrass leaves
- 1 tsp of fennel
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tsp of honey
How to brew?
- Wash the lemongrass leaves carefully and cut them into small pieces using kitchen scissors
- Boil water along with the cut lemongrass and fennel for 10 minutes
- Strain the infused tea with a strainer into your favorite cup
- Sweeten the tea with honey if you prefer.
Lemongrass and fennel together produce a sweet and citrus aroma that can help calm down and also help you soothe the fire within you, especially your overworked digestive fire, thereby promoting healthy digestion. The other teas you can try are mint, citronella or hibiscus tea.
Customized herbal teas along with a healthy lifestyle can help you balance your doshas better.
