5 Ayurvedic herbal teas for spring

I’m guessing you drink tea? I chose 5 ideal herbal teas for spring. They taste good and they help balance Kapha, since we’re in Kapha season.

Don’t expect a detailed and poetic description of savours as I don’t have the skills for culinary reviews, sadly. However, I explain how I chose them according to Ayurvedic principles and it’s an information you can use for any herb and/or spice in your cooking. I hope that you’ll find it useful.

KAPHA

You don’t mind reading a bit more about Ayurveda, do you? It’ll be very quick. I suggest you read this article if you’re not familiar with the basics + subscribers can download their dosha mini-guide in the resource corner.

So, as I said, we’re in Kapha season and everyone may feel the effects of a Kapha excess. There are many different and sometimes very subtle symptoms but a few examples will help you get the idea. Everything linked to heaviness, stagnation, mucus, slowness and congestion evokes Kapha. Think:

• cysts,
• oedema,
• respiratory problems,
• lethargy,
• excessive tiredness,
• excessive appetite.
• cellulite

The six tastes

A healthy diet is the number one condition for good health and balance. The Ayurvedic take on nutrition is quite unique as it makes a correlation between tastes and properties and recommends mindful eating as a way of knowing what is good for your own nature.

As you can see, we want pungent, bitter and astringent if we want to balance Kapha.

HERBS AND SPICES TO BALANCE KAPHA

• Basil – pungent
• Clove – pungent
• Ginger – pungent, sweet
• Thyme – pungent
• Turmeric – pungent, bitter
• Cardamom – pungent, sweet
• Cinnamon – pungent, sweet, astringent
• Fennel – sweet, pungent
• Cayenne pepper – pungent
• Black pepper– pungent
• Cumin – pungent, bitter
• Dandelion – bitter, sweet
• Eucalyptus – pungent

Once you know which herbs and spices are useful, you know what to look for in the ingredient list. So, onto the teas!!

Who said finally?!!

1. « breathe deep » by YOGI TEA

Ingredients: Organic Licorice Root, Organic Basil Leaf, Organic Eucalyptus Leaf, Organic Ginger Root, Organic Cinnamon Bark, Organic Thyme Leaf, Organic Elecampane Root, Organic Peppermint Leaf, Organic Cardamom Seed, Organic Mullein Leaf. Other Ingredients: Natural Licorice Flavor.

This tea will help with respiratory problems and congestion. If you like a dash of yoga with your tea, the box provides a pose to help open the lungs. And its taste is validated by my son – aka Mr. Difficult. I quote: « so good ». Yes, he’s a man (teen) of few words.

2. « STOMACH EASE » BY YOGI TEA

Ingredients: Organic Licorice Root, Organic Cardamom Seed, Organic Fennel Seed, Organic Coriander Seed, Organic Peppermint Leaf, Organic Ginger Root, Organic Black Pepper. Other Ingredients: Organic Barley Malt.

It’ll help your digestion if you have emotional eating tendencies or if you compensate tiredness with food (like me). Do you like the oracles on the tea bags? I love them and I find that people usually do too. Even my teen takes the time to read his oracle!

3. « REVITALISE » by PUKKA

Ingredients: Cinnamon bark, orange peel, elderflower, cardamom seed, licorice root, ginger root, green tea, spearmint leaf, clove bud, black peppercorn.

The herbal tea for a dose of stimulation if you have a hard time getting out of hibernation mode.

4. « GINSENG MATCHA GREEN » by PUKKA

Ingredients: Sencha green tea, sweet fennel seed, dandelion root, licorice root, nettle leaf, lemon essential oil flavour  turmeric root, lemon whole, lemon myrtle leaf, Matcha powder (Jejo do Garucha).

Another dose of stimulation and an Ayurvedic take on Matcha green tea. Plus Matcha green tea helps with hormonal balance and hormonal acne. And hormonal, cystic acne is – guess what?! Yes, Kapha!!

5. « DETOX » by PUKKA

Ingredients: Aniseed, fennel seed, cardamom seed, licorice root, coriander seed, celery seed.

For detox. Of course. The one extraordinary thing with this tea is that I absolutely love it but I don’t like aniseed or fennel and I hate celery. Give it a chance if you’re like me, you might be happily surprised too.

THE MINDFUL RITUAL

You can easily infuse (haha, see what I did there?) your everyday life with mindfulness. You only need to take the time, stop multitasking, try to focus on the smells, the tastes and relax.

I know that it requires some effort but it’s worth it. Be present for yourself.

Your well-being, your health, your beauty don’t depend on one product. It’s your intention that counts – how carefully you choose the products in your routines and how they all work in synergy to help you achieve this intention.