AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Spicy Pumpkin Chai

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"I love this nourishing recipe!"
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How to Make Spicy Pumpkin Chai

SERVINGS: 2
PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 0 MINUTES

MEAL: DRINK
STYLE: AYURVEDIC
PREPARATION: SMOOTHIE, BOILED, PUREE
FOR OCCASION: ON-THE-MEND

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.
See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

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

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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
Taste Help

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?

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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
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Subtaste:
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.

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,
Bland

BLAND

Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy.

SEE ALL 'BLAND' FOODS / HERBS

,
Acrid

ACRID

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

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS

HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Spicy Pumpkin Chai
Help
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.

Warms Abdomen

WARMS-ABDOMEN

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

SEE ALL 'WARMS-ABDOMEN' 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.

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,
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.

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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.

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Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

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,
Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

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,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

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Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

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

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Warms Chest

WARMS-CHEST

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

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,
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.

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,
Warms Ears

WARMS-EARS

Stimulates peripheral circulation to warm extremities, including the ears.

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,
Warms Head

WARMS-HEAD

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

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,
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

Relieves Tension

RELIEVES-TENSION

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

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-TENSION' 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

Constituents:
Carbohydrate, Fats,
Coumarin

COUMARIN

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

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

, Sodium, Beta Carotene,
Iron

IRON

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

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

, Vitamin A, 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

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

LEARN MORE

Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

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

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

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

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

Crystallized Ginger

Crystallized Ginger has these Actions in Common

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

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

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

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

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

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Spicy Pumpkin Chai

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

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

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

LEARN MORE

Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Trikatu

Trikatu has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Hot Shower

Hot Shower has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Hot Bath

Hot Bath has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom Salt Bath has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

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

LEARN MORE

Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Regular exercise

Regular exercise has these Actions in Common

Relieves-tension, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Nerve-stimulant

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

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About John Joseph Immel

About the Author

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

John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.

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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'?

full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewhalf start review(4.75 out of 5 stars) 4 ratings, 560 likes
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It can be taken as often as desired according to dosha. And yes, alternative sweeteners may be used.
Just made this... quite delicious and I roasted the seeds with salt to make a snack as well.
- Analisa, San francisco, CA , 12-27-10 (Reply)
this Recipe is not for a Kapha. It is Vata pacifying and nourishing. A Kapha needs foods with a reducing quality.
- Alexandra Epple, Cedar ridge, CA , 10-11-12 (Reply)
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 :)
- Kate crawford, Milan , 10-13-12 (Reply)
Wonderful a drink from heaven...I used 1 cup almond milk to 1 cup pumpkin...just right for me
- Martha Thierry, Los angeles, CA
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, 10-04-13 (Reply)
I love this nourishing recipe!
- Shannon, San francisco, CA
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, 10-09-13 (Reply)
Is this suppose to be like a blended soup consistency? It did taste good but wasn't sure about the texture.
- Kat, Highland park, IL
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, 10-05-19 (Reply)
It should be a smooth consistency - similar to a blended soup or smoothie.
- Kimberly Kubicke, Asbury park, NJ
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, 10-11-19 (Reply)

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