In the dark, cold depths of winter, there is nothing better than a warm, soothing beverage to help battle the chill and bring a sense of comfort and delight. It can be as simple as a warm glass of water with lemon, a quick cup of ginger tea, or a creamy and luxurious mug of chai.
When I find myself deeply craving comfort and warmth, I love to whip up this tasty, nourishing tea that my mom used to make for me in the cold winter months. It never fails to warm my body and my heart alike.
Keep in mind, winter is the season of kapha, so we want to favor heating herbs and spices in our foods. We want to focus on herbs and spices that have a special affinity to the lungs as well, as they are one of the main places in the body that kapha can accumulate and lead to imbalance.
This beautiful little elixir does all of the above!
Ashwagandha brings a warm and grounding quality, while cardamom and ginger increase circulation and boost digestion. Tulsi is one of the best herbal allies for robust and healthy lungs, and is also well-known for its sattvic qualities that promote a sense of mental clarity and peace.
The squeeze of lemon brings a subtle and delicious zing to the blend, while also adding a cleansing and detoxifying action to help clear any excess kapha.
Finally, a touch of honey adds a perfect amount of sweetness to this tea and further enhances its kapha-balancing qualities. Just be sure to never cook your honey! When cooked, honey becomes a toxin to our internal systems. Always wait to add honey until your beverage is cool enough to drink.
Overall, this herbal elixir will help melt any excess kapha that has lodged in the body and fuel the digestive fire, keeping your agni nice and robust through the winter months. It is a simple and delicious way to get your body revved up to beat the kapha lethargy that the heavy winter months can bring.
Enjoy this warm beverage any time you like, especially on the mornings that you need a little extra boost to get through a cold and dreary day!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 4 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon ashwagandha powder
- 2 teaspoons tulsi powder
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ½ lemon squeezed
- Honey to taste
Directions:
Heat the water in a pot on the stove. Mix in the ginger, ashwagandha, tulsi, and cardamom and let the tea come to a rolling boil. Take it off the stove and let it cool. Mix in the fresh lemon juice and just a touch of honey for taste.
Enjoy!
Note: This recipe makes 2 cups of tea. If you'd like, you can double the recipe and keep it in a thermos to sip throughout the day.
