Indian Gooseberry Drink 1

The very versatile Ayurveda super food, Indian gooseberry a.k.a. amla/amalaki comes together with mint/pudina, cumin, pepper, sugar and Himalayan pink salt to make this tantalizing summer thirst quencher, which is as healthful as it is delicious!

Ingredients (makes 5 extra tall glasses of juice):

• Water
• Amla (Indian gooseberry) (4)
• Mint (a handful)
• Salt (per taste)
• Himalayan pink salt (per taste)
• Organic brown sugar (to taste)
• Cumin (jeera) seeds (1/4 tsp)
• Black pepper corns (1/4 tsp)

Method:

• Toast cumin and pepper on a medium flame until the cumin turns slightly reddish and the aroma of the toasted seeds start emanating from the pan.
• Grind amla, mint, toasted seeds with enough water to a smooth paste. I used my Vitamix blender for this.
• In remaining water, add sugar, both kinds of salt and the ground paste.
• Mix well and strain out the pulp.
• Serve as is or garnish with mint leaves.

Tastes (Rasa):

Sweet (amla, sugar), sour (amla), salty (salt), bitter (amla, mint, cumin), pungent (pepper, amla), astringent (amla, mint).

Doshic Influence:

Amla is a very revered fruit in Ayurveda due to its numerous benefits. It is a great source of vitamin C, is very cooling and pitta reducing, improves eye, skin and hair health, enhances immunity and fertility and is also a potent and nourishing rasayana (rejuvenative). Mint leaves are also cooling and pitta reducing. Mint is also a good digestive and helps improve respiratory health. Spices like cumin, pepper and pink salt enhance not just the flavor of the drink, but also act as effective digestive agents.

Effects on the Mind (Gunas):

This Indian gooseberry drink is aromatic, yet mild, balanced in all tastes, digestive in nature and has an overall sattvic effect on the mind and body.