"A cup of tea is a cup of peace." Sushitsu Sen XV

A cooling, nourishing Pitta tea is a great way to help bring the Pitta dosha into balance. Pitta tea can soothe the fiery, intense nature of Pitta types and help prevent Pitta imbalances from developing during the hot summer months of Pitta season. Here's what you need to know about brewing the perfect cup of Pitta tea.

Ingredients in Pitta Tea

In Ayurveda, it's recommended that we eat foods, herbs, and spices that are elementally opposed to those of our dominant dosha. For Pitta types, that means consuming cooling, denser foods that are sweet, bitter and astringent and avoiding hot and spicy tastes. Prime ingredients for Pitta tea include:

Pitta Kitchen Herbs and Spices

• Basil
• Cardamom
• Cinnamon
• Coriander
• Cumin
• Dill
• Fennel
• Ginger (fresh)
• Licorice
• Mint
• Neem leaves
• Parlsey
• Peppermint
• Saffron
• Spearmint
• Tarragon
• Turmeric
• Vanilla
• Wintergreen

Pitta Medicinal Herbs

You can also incorporate medicinal herbs into your Pitta tea for more powerful effects. These herbs are known for helping with various Pitta ailments: Chamomile, Chicory Dandelion, Hibiscus, Rose petals, Lemon balm, Bhringraj (Eclipta prostrata), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), and Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri).

Pitta Sweeteners

Since the sweet taste is generally supportive of the Pitta dosha, you can consider adding the following to your tea:

• Date Sugar
• Fruit Juice Concentrates
• Maple Syrup
• Turbinado

Pitta Milks

In general, Pitta types do well with dairy milk and alternative forms of milk as they are sweet and heavy. Any of the following milks make great additions to a cup of Pitta tea.

• Cashew milk
• Cow's milk
• Coconut milk
• Goat's milk
• Hemp milk
• Macadamia nut milk
• Rice milk

Don't forget that you can add healthy fats to your tea for added sweetness and heaviness! Pitta types do well with coconut oil and ghee.

Pitta Tea Recipes

Here are several examples of simple, easy-to-make Pitta tea recipes.

CCF Tea

CCF Tea is a traditional Ayurvedic tea and remedy for digestion. CCF stands for cumin, coriander and fennel. It's effective at soothing and aiding digestion and promoting a very gentle detoxification. When Pittas become imbalanced, they are likely to experience digestive distress, like indigestion, heartburn, and bloating. This tea helps soothe and calm the gut.

• 1 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
• Optional: Add 1/4 teaspoon of Pitta pacifying herbs of your choice like rose petals, chamomile, spearmint and hibiscus

Mix all the ingredients together and pour boiled water atop them. Let steep for 5 minutes, then strain. As a Pitta, it's best to let the tea cool down significantly before drinking it since Pitta can be aggravated by heat.

Fresh Mint Tea

Mint varieties are wonderful for cooling the fiery nature of the Pitta dosha. If you're feeling overheated, consider sipping on a fresh mint tea.

• 2 sprigs of fresh mint
• 1 cup of water

Pour boiled water atop the mint leaves. Let steep for 5 minutes, then strain and allow it to cool.

Bedtime Spiced Milk

In Ayurveda, warm milk is a common remedy for sleeplessness. This recipe features cardamom and saffron to balance the Pitta dosha and ease you into dreamland. If you're having trouble relaxing at night, try making this soothing tea before bedtime:

• 1 cup milk of choice (or 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup water)
• 1/8 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ghee or coconut oil
• 3 Saffron stigmas
• Optional: Pinch of cinnamon

Boil the milk and then pour atop the ingredient. Mix and then let steep for 5 minutes. Be sure to let is cool before drinking it. Pitta tend to be aggravated by heat, so you could even stick it in the fridge for a while.

Breakfast Tea

Although coffee is beloved by many Pittas, it's actually best if Pitta types avoid or limit their consumption. That's because coffee has a warming and stimulating effect on the body and mind. Coffee can end up increasing Pitta’s hot and fiery tendencies, leading to irritability and indigestion issues. Instead, Pittas should consider drinking a Chyawanprash tea. Chyawanprash contains amalaki or amla berry as the main ingredient, which is a powerful, nutrient rich herb that is known for pacifying the Pitta dosha. Chyawanprash also contains adaptogens. Adaptogens are herbs that help your body adapt to stress and provide stable energy without side effects. If you're looking for a gentle pick me up in the morning, try mixing Chyawanprash with hot water:

• 1 cup hot water
• 1 teaspoon of Chyawanprash

Mix one teaspoon of Chyawanprash in warm water. Let cool and enjoy. For more Pitta food and beverage inspiration, read Pitta Diet: What to Eat to Keep Energy Levels in Balance. Reviewed by Dr. Jayant Lokhande, MD (Botanical Drugs), MBA (Biotechnology)