October begins to bring cooler mornings, shorter days, and a gradual shift toward the dry, mobile qualities associated with Vata dosha. After months of summer heat, this is a good time to begin introducing more warmth and grounding into our daily routines.

​

This simple apple, cardamom, and cinnamon tea is naturally sweet, fragrant, and comforting. It supports digestion while bringing some of the warming and grounding qualities that can be helpful as we move further into fall.

​

Tea Recipe

Ingredients

½ small apple, thinly sliced

2 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed

1 small cinnamon stick

2 cups water

​

Directions
Place the apple, cardamom, and cinnamon in a small saucepan with the water. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy warm.

For a sweeter tea, you can add a small amount of honey once the tea has cooled to a comfortable drinking temperature.

 

Benefits of the Herbs and Spices

• Apple brings a naturally sweet, familiar flavor to this tea. In Ayurveda, sweet taste can be grounding and nourishing, which makes apple a lovely addition as we move toward the cooler, drier months. Apples also provide fiber and plant compounds when eaten as part of the whole fruit.

• Cardamom is aromatic, light, and gently warming. It is traditionally used to support digestion and can help make heavier foods feel easier to digest. Its naturally sweet, fragrant flavor also keeps this tea from becoming too spicy.

• Cinnamon brings warmth and a comforting autumn flavor. It supports digestion and circulation and may also have a beneficial effect on blood sugar regulation. A small amount is enough to provide warmth without making the tea overly hot.

Dosha Benefits

• Vata: This is the primary dosha this tea supports. The warmth of the tea, the sweet quality of the apple, and the gentle warmth of cardamom and cinnamon can help counter some of the cold, dry, and mobile qualities that become more noticeable as fall progresses.

• Pitta: Enjoy in moderation. If the weather is still very warm or you are experiencing a lot of internal heat, use less cinnamon and allow the tea to cool slightly before drinking.

• Kapha: The warming spices can help support digestion and prevent the tea from feeling too heavy. Keep the apple portion modest if you're looking for a lighter drink.

 

When to Enjoy

Cool autumn mornings

After breakfast

After an afternoon walk

With an evening book or quiet time

Anytime you want a naturally sweet, caffeine-free taste of fall