The perfect Autumn and Winter drink: Chai latte.

These Chai recipes are particularly good for Vata and Kapha, although with just a few modifications, Pitta dosha can have it too.

Just another Ayurvedic way to help us stay warm and cozy during the cold season.

The Benefits of Chai

As we add more layers to our clothing, if observant, we can notice the changes produced by the weather on the body and emotions.

As per Ayurveda, the cold and windy temperatures increase the air element within us.

More air equals indecisiveness, hyperactivity, and agitation.

It becomes common to lose sleep over trivial things. Sad to say, insomnia quickly turns into anxiety and low performance during the day.

Winter, on the other hand, and which is quickly approaching, brings along the earth element.

Short, freezing days make us feel lethargic and apathetic.

It’s not absurd to want to stay in our pajamas all day, watching an ol’ rerun, when we get too much of it.

What I just described are the Vata and Kapha aggravated doshas, respectively. Clearly, they don’t facilitate our brightest, most productive, or happier times.

That’s why we need to add foods to our diet that are inherently stimulating, while also being deeply grounding, so we can diminish naturally the elevated elements (Air and Earth) and come back to a state of homeostasis.

These Ayurvedic Chai Recipes offer you exactly that!

Some benefits of having a home-made, Ayurvedic chai whenever you’re feeling too “airy” or too “earthy”:

Calms the nervous system
Improves the condition of the skin, by hydrating it
Boosts circulation in the body
Enhances fertility and reproductive health
Increases Ojas — The Nectar of life
Balances hormones
Improves digestion
Alleviates bloating and constipation

Watch this Video

Watch this video to learn the benefits of drinking chai and to get the recipes for each dosha!

Chai is a delicate way to balance your dosha when it’s cold.

What Is In It?

Firstly, the spices that we use in these recipes add warmth to the body and help strengthen the digestive fire or Agni.

Cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, and cloves remove blockages, and facilitate movement. Something we definitely want to support when Vata or Kapha — or both —are intensified.

Fennel, tulsi, and ginger are also profoundly aromatic: a great stimulant for our senses.

We will use home-made almond milk for Vata and Pitta Chai lattes, as it is “heavier” and more stabilizing for those types of body. Kapha needs lightness; therefore, we will prepare this dosha’s Chai latte in water only — not to worry, as it’ll be still delicious.