College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Spicy Pumpkin Chai


4.75 out of 5 stars 4 ratings, 581 likes

Customer Reviews

4.75 out of 5 stars
Sign in to review or comment
"I love this nourishing recipe!"
- Shannon San francisco, CA

See all reviews

How to Make Spicy Pumpkin Chai

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp
2 tbsp
1 c
1/2 c
1/4 tsp
1/4 tsp
2 pinch
2 pinch
1 pinch

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

Buy pureed pumpkin in a can for a shorter prep time. Canned pumpkin is also less gassy than whole pumpkins.

To puree whole pumpkins:
1. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Baking makes the skin peel easily.

2. Chop and mix the pumpkin with the almond milk and spices and puree in a blender.

3. Bring to a boil in a saucepan and serve warm.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Like a steaming hot cup of liquid pumpkin pie, spicy pumpkin chai is warm, cozy, and colorful for the fall season and changing leaves. Almond milk adds grounding heartiness. Cooked pumpkins are soft and comforting- perfect to warm and soften a dry, windy fall day.

De-Stress with Pumpkin Chai

Autumn is a season of deficiency and change, provoking higher stress levels. Your body needs help weathering the changes of autumn. Nourishing, seasonal foods like pumpkin and nervines like nutmeg make you feel calm and stable. Pumpkin and nutmeg are both mild sedatives, so they work beautifully together to reduce stress.

Choose an evening in, sipping steaming Pumpkin Chai over constant socialization. Wearing yourself ragged keeping up with October's social calendar can result in compromised immunity for flu season come November. Focusing attention inward frees up energy to help your body prepare for winter. According to Ayurveda, keeping your nervous system stable through fall is your No. 1 tool for maintaining strong immunity and staying healthy.

Protect Yourself from Fall Deficiency

In fall when the temperature starts to drop, your body scrambles to protect itself from heat loss. Nourishing foods are enticing, helping to fortify deficient tissue, thicken your skin, and insulate from the cold. In addition to nourishing tissue, pumpkin chai is also a rasayana (meaning tonic). Pumpkins, ghee, almonds, and sugar all build ojas in time for the coming winter. Ojas is Ayurveda's word for nourishment - offering strength, immunity and a sparkle in your eye. Pumpkin Chai is perfectly nourishing and fortifying, calming your nervous system and strengthening your deepest cells.

Pumpkins are orange because of beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is also in carrots and encourages healing through rejuvenation and regeneration of tissue. Orange foods with beta-carotene are generally liver tonics that clear any residue of the heat damage from the weather and intensity of the summer. They also purify the blood and soothe the eyes. The cooling demulcent and laxative properties of pumpkin soothe the GI tract.

Spiced to Taste & Digest

Spices make these heavy ingredients lighter for digestion, and pumpkin a bit less gas-forming. While all spices stimulate circulation, cloves specifically move heat to the surface of the body, warming up cold extremities. For Kapha types reduce ghee to one tsp and substitute one tbsp honey instead of sugar.

WHAT IS SPICY PUMPKIN CHAI?

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Spicy Pumpkin Chai Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Spicy Pumpkin Chai' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Metabolic Nature of Spicy Pumpkin Chai

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

GOOEY

ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

Other

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

, Bland,
Acrid

ACRID

Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee.

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Spicy Pumpkin Chai
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Warms Abdomen

WARMS-ABDOMEN

Warms the muscles and organs of the abdomen, stimulating digestion and metabolism.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-ABDOMEN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Appetite Suppressant

APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT

Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain.

SEE ALL 'APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Appetizer

APPETIZER

Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat.

SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS

Relieves Burning

RELIEVES-BURNING

Herbs that soothe a burn or reduce an internal burning sensation, such as aloe vera.

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-BURNING' FOODS / HERBS

Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS

Makes You Tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

, Makes Jittery,
Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Numbs Anasthetic

NUMBS-ANASTHETIC

Inhibits sensation in a particular area.

SEE ALL 'NUMBS-ANASTHETIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Relaxes Eyes

RELAXES-EYES

Eases tension in eye muscles, so the eyes feel less strained, often by supporting the liver.

SEE ALL 'RELAXES-EYES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Stimulant

NERVE-STIMULANT

Provide short lived stimulation of the nervous system.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Chest

WARMS-CHEST

Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing. Often these herbs are hot, aromatic, and pungent.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-CHEST' FOODS / HERBS

,
Soothes Throat

SOOTHES-THROAT

Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Warms Ears

WARMS-EARS

Stimulates peripheral circulation to warm extremities, including the ears.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-EARS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Warms Head

WARMS-HEAD

An herb that increases sensations of heat and warmth in the head.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-HEAD' FOODS / HERBS

,
Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Relieves Tension

RELIEVES-TENSION

An herb that releases tightness, constriction, and rigidity in a muscle.

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-TENSION' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Carbohydrate, Fats,
Coumarin

COUMARIN

Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory.

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

, Sodium, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A,
Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

, Potassium

Foods with a Similar Nature to Spicy Pumpkin Chai

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator, Warms-chest, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Relieves-tension, Wakes-you-up, Warms-ears, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator, Warms-chest, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Relieves-tension, Wakes-you-up, Warms-ears, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator, Warms-chest, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Relieves-tension, Wakes-you-up, Warms-ears, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Carminative

    LEARN MORE

  • Cloves

    Cloves has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Numbs-anasthetic, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Vasodilator, Warms-ears, Carminative, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Appetizer, Carminative, Numbs-anasthetic, Warms-chest, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Basil

    Basil has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Nerve-stimulant, Warms-head, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Warms-ears, Appetizer

    LEARN MORE

  • Pumpkin

    Pumpkin has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Relaxes-eyes, Satisfies-stomach, Appetite-suppressant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Relieves-burning, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive, Relieves-tension

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Dried)

    Ginger (Dried) has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Warms-ears, Appetizer, Diaphoretic, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Crystallized Ginger

    Crystallized Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Warms-ears, Appetizer, Diaphoretic, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins

    LEARN MORE

  • Cinnamon

    Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Warms-chest, Appetizer, Carminative, Soothes-throat

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator, Diaphoretic, Nerve-stimulant, Warms-chest, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Spicy Pumpkin Chai

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Warms-ears, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-head, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Appetizer, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Wild Ginger

    Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Appetizer, Warms-chest, Burns-toxins, Warms-ears

    LEARN MORE

  • Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

    Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

    Vasodilator, Wakes-you-up, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-ears, Carminative, Warms-head, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Pennyroyal

    Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

    Relieves-tension, Appetizer, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Numbs-anasthetic

    LEARN MORE

  • Trikatu

    Trikatu has these Actions in Common

    Warms-abdomen, Appetizer, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Shower

    Hot Shower has these Actions in Common

    Vasodilator, Warms-chest, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension

    LEARN MORE

  • Sit in the Sauna

    Sit in the Sauna has these Actions in Common

    Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Relieves-tension

    LEARN MORE

  • Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy

    Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Relieves-tension, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Bath

    Hot Bath has these Actions in Common

    Relieves-tension, Vasodilator, Warms-chest, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Epsom Salt Bath

    Epsom Salt Bath has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Vasodilator, Warms-chest, Warms-head

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Wakes-you-up, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nerve-stimulant, Relieves-tension, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

View Other Healthy Recipes for Autumn-Winter

This recipe is recommended for Autumn-Winter. Check out these other Autumn-Winter recipes here.
VIEW ALL AUTUMN-WINTER RECIPES MORE VATA / PITTA RECIPES
MAIN RECIPE PAGE

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

Spring Diet

The season is about to shift into spring. Are you ready?

upcoming courses

Apply for Scholarship. Monhly payment plans available.

What is Ayurveda?

Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

Comments & Impressions of 'Spicy Pumpkin Chai'

Do you like 'spicy pumpkin chai'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'spicy pumpkin chai'?

(4.75 out of 5 stars) 4 ratings, 581 likes
Sign in to review or comment

“It can be taken as often as desired according to dosha. And yes, alternative sweeteners may be used."
Analisa San francisco, CA
2010-12-27
“Just made this... quite delicious and I roasted the seeds with salt to make a snack as well."
Alexandra Epple Cedar ridge, CA
2012-10-11
“this Recipe is not for a Kapha. It is Vata pacifying and nourishing. A Kapha needs foods with a reducing quality. "
Kate crawford Milan
2012-10-13
“So Delicious!! I just finished the last sip of this Pumpkin Chai and I'm in love. I love thick, creamy drinks and this recipe yielded the perfect consistency. I only had canned pumpkin pie filling from Whole Foods, so I used that and although it had more sugar it was so easy to make because it already had all the spices. Thank you John :)"
Martha Thierry Los angeles, CA
2013-10-04
“Wonderful a drink from heaven...I used 1 cup almond milk to 1 cup pumpkin...just right for me "
Shannon San francisco, CA
2013-10-09
“I love this nourishing recipe!"
Kat Highland park, IL
2019-10-05
“Is this suppose to be like a blended soup consistency? It did taste good but wasn't sure about the texture."
Kimberly Kubicke Asbury park, NJ
2019-10-11
“It should be a smooth consistency - similar to a blended soup or smoothie."
Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Join Joyful Belly

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips?
Subscribe to our free newsletter!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.