I can see summer start to peek around the corner now, and I’m so excited for her arrival. Sunny days splashing in the river, popsicles for snack, wildflowers and adventures to the mountains, picnic for dinner every night. Summer is my favorite.
But summer is also the most challenging for me to manage in my body. As a tridoshic prakruti with a very sensitive pitta, summer is when I’m most likely to fall out of balance with excess heat and inflammation building as I go about the things I love most; being, moving and playing in the sun. So long as I take thoughtful measures on how I manage my days, my energy and build my meals, all goes well. And that means making weekly jars of this gorgeous, refreshing, lightning and cooling Tulsi Mint Sun Tea.
For me it does. For most of my clients, it definitely does.
In the years of life prior to discovering this medicine, and understanding what shifts to make to positively impact that summer heat, it was common for me to suffer from IBS-like symptoms, vascilating between constipation + diahrrea all summer long. I struggled with acne, specifically along my jawline. I slept SO HOT and would wake up in a pool of my own sweat, even without clothes or covers on. I would get home from long runs, rides or mountain adventures and be completely blown all the time. And, I struggled with digestive distress when I was out on those efforts.
With a few simple tweaks to my diet, and a commitment to managing my energy and running life in a way that keeps this firey dosha in check, I don’t suffer from any of those symptoms anymore. Ever. Which means I’m also a happier, healthier, better rested, better trained individual with clear and happy skin.
Is it worth it to manage pitta? In my mind – absolutely.
A social media post from a Gen Z influencer wearing a boatload of makeup and carrying a tiny purse popped up in my feed this week. She was ranting about how she cleared her acne with a special herb tea! “It was a miracle!” Indeed, it is. And I’m so glad that we have individuals like this paying attention because where would we be without them?! (Le sigh.)
Plants have some truly miraculous superpowers, it’s true. And they impact us in deep and important ways. This goes for every food we ingest, actually – plants, vegetables, legumes, animals, and herbs alike. Tulsi and mint are two of the most common of these incredible species, and they have lots of properties that benefit us all – no matter who we are.
Tulsi is widely celebrated in Ayurveda, and the translation of it’s name means “the incomparable one.” Representing the goddess Lakshmi, this plant has deep mythological roots in Indian history and you’ll often find a pot of the tea brewing in homes near their altars. You can read more about this beautiful plant here.
Beyond the mythology, these two plants have tremendous benefits for each dosha:
Vata: Balances and warms, grounding and supporting digestion for vata types.
Pitta: Slightly warms but still calms, and helps pitta to keep things chill.
Kapha: Stimulates and decongests, which are dominating effects that balance this dosha.
Vata: Can be excessively cooling if used without moderation, but is balanced by tulsi.
Pitta: Cooling and soothing, balancing for this spicy dosha
Kapha: Invigorating, which benefits mental fog and boosts digestion
By consuming a little glass of this tea as a sweet summer sipper, we’re generally helping to keep our channels clear, keep the fire at bay, and prevent the swirl of summer’s excitement get the better of us. And while a prebiotic soda has it’s own superpowers (mostly, the bubbles!) it can’t say that it’s actually balancing us.
Yes! And yes I know that your grandma made sun tea, and she was a really smart lady! Brewing tea with the heat of the sun is the most gentle of infusion processes, which preserves the volatile oils in these precious herbs. These oils are important because THEY contain the superpowers! If we denature them, or destroy them, we’re just eating grass folx.
So take your time, let the sun do some of the good work here.
Is just so delicious. And light. And lovely.
I brighten it with a bit of lime juice, that also imparts some cooling powers for pitta dosha. And, I sweeten it with a bit of coconut sugar, though you could also use turbinado or maple syrup if you like. Keep in mind that the tea isn’t meant to be a SWEET tea, the sugar just takes a bit of the edge off and rounds it out.
And I enjoy it just chilled. Quick reminder that ice cold drinks ice down our digestive systems, which are naturally depleted in the summer time as they’re working hard to keep us cool. If you’re a vata dosha, this is a bummer that will really impact your digestive comfort. If you’re a pitta, this dips your metabolism and inhibits performance and digestive strength (aka makes it harder for you to digest and assimilate foods you love.) And if you’re a kapha, you’ll notice that your stomach gets heavy. So steer clear of those ice cubes UNLESS you’re trying to bring down core body temperature!
The active time it takes to actually make this tea is minimal. Anyone can do it, and you have five minutes to stuff the herbs into a jar, my friends. But if you don’t have 3-5 hours to wait for your tea you can absolutely use boiling water to make it. If you do this, I recommend using dried tulsi and mint, so as not to impact the tender herbs with very hot water.
I hope you love this one and keep it on repeat all season long!
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