Black pepper (piper nigrum)

Once known as black gold, this culinary spice is way more than just a sprinkle on your pasta!

*Per Ayurveda-

• Black pepper is good for revving up your digestion, and can help absorption of nutrition by potentiating bioavailabilty
• Black pepper is heating and drying, and supports vata and kapha doshas

Use black pepper to ‘pep’ up i.e., energize where you see stagnation e.g., add it to your meals that are heavy and could sit in your stomach for long like dairy and meat, add black pepper to tea if congested, definitely add black pepper to turmeric lattes to increase the bioavailability of curcumin (the main active ingredient in turmeric).

Our products containing this ingredient: Golden Turmeric Blend

Cardamom – green (elettaria cardamomum)

Cardamom is a wonderfully aromatic carminative spice. It’s one of the most expensive spices in the world because it’s harvested by hand! This sweet and pungent spice can be used in food, as a mouth freshener. If you are a dairy fan, add this to your milk, yogurt and desserts to break down the milk protein faster.

*Per Ayurveda-

• Cardamom is an appetizing spice and a digestive aid too. At the level of the mind cardamom is a 'sattvic' spice i.e., it gives clarity and gentle mental stimulation
• Cardamom supports all the three doshas i.e. vata, pitta, kapha albeit pittas are recommended to consume it in moderation

Cardamom (whole or ground) makes a wonderful addition to pilafs, turmeric milk aka golden latte, cookies and desserts, or you could suck on a whole cardamom pod after meals

Our products containing this ingredient: Cup-It-Cool Tea, Golden Turmeric Blend, The Einkorn Goodies

Chamomile - german (matricaria chamomila)

This wonderful herb of the asteraceae family is known world over for its ability to put people to sleep. This simple and elegant looking white and yellow flower can do magic beyond that too.

*Per Ayurveda-

• Chamomile is a nervine herb that relaxes the mind. due to its carminative properties, chamomile benefits digestion. It could relax spams and support a comforting menstrual experience
• Chamomile is drying and cooling. it supports pitta and kapha doshas

Chamomile is widely used in teas and tinctures

Our products containing this ingredient: Calm-in-a-Teacup

Cinnamon (cinnamon cassia)

Pungent and sweet at the same time, this spice is the bark of a tree from the lauraceae family.

*Per Ayurveda-

• Cinnamon benefits can include boosting digestion and metabolic functions, comforting menstrual cramps. Cinnamon may help manage blood sugar levels already within normal range
• Cinnamon is warming, and supports vata and kapha doshas

There are many uses for cinnamon. It is great for culinary use and is used in savory dishes to desserts alike. It is also a great ingredient for spice blends, teas, tinctures and tooth powders.

Our products containing this ingredient: Calm-in-a-teacup, Control Sugar Delete Tea, Golden Turmeric Blend

Cloves (syzygium aromaticum)

Have you come across a flower bud as aromatic as the clove?

*Per Ayurveda -

• Cloves are a friend during cold weather. cloves can benefit digestion due to their carminative properties
• Cloves are pungent and heating

You can use cloves to spice your cookies, desserts, soups, stews, teas and lattes during winter months. Adding a few cloves to hot water for steam inhalation works well for congestion.

Our products containing this ingredient: Golden Turmeric Blend

Coriander seeds (coriandrum sativum)

Coriander seeds are the seeds of the cilantro plant. this cooling rustic spice is popular as a culinary spice for curries, meat rubs and more.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Coriander seeds are considered a digestive aid and diuretic
• Energetics of coriander seeds is cooling and dry. it supports all the three doshas i.e., vata, pitta, kapha. Coriander seeds are especially good for pitta balancing

To use coriander seeds in cooking, pulverize it and add it to food at the start of cooking. You could also make coriander seeds tea for the spring and summer seasons. If your gut needs extra cooling after a party night of alcohol, fried or spicy foods, make coriander seeds water by simply soaking the coriander seeds overnight and straining out the water in the morning.

Our products containing this ingredient: CCF Tea, Cup-It-Cool Tea

Cumin seeds (cuminum cyminum)

Cumin seeds are very widely used in Indian, African, Latin American, Middle Eastern cuisines. It can add a bold earthy flavor to your food, and help you digest it too!

*Per Ayurveda -

• Benefits of cumin include healthy digestion, detox, stimulating blood circulation
• Energetics of cumin seeds is warm and dry. Cumin seeds support vata and kapha doshas

Are you wondering how to use cumin seeds? Roasted and ground cumin seeds powder can be sprinkled over cooked veggies and soups, salads and plain yogurt (along with a dash of salt), whole cumin seeds can be added as spice at the start of cooking – add it when the oil is hot and let the cumin seeds splutter before you add other ingredients. To brew a digestive tea with cumin seeds, boil them in water along with fennel seeds and coriander seeds.

Our products containing this ingredient: CCF Tea

Date Sugar ( Phoenix dactylifera)

We often receive questions about date sugar—what is date sugar, how is date sugar made, and what are its health benefits? Let’s break it down.

Date sugar is a natural sweetener made from dried, ground dates. Unlike refined sugars, date sugar is minimally processed, retaining the fiber, vitamins, and minerals naturally found in dates. At AyurSome Wellness, we prioritize ingredients like date sugar for their natural sweetness and nutritional value.

Date sugar has a lower glycemic index than refined sugar, meaning it causes a slower rise in blood sugar levels, making it a better choice for those managing blood glucose levels or looking for sustained energy. Its fiber content also supports digestive health by promoting regularity, while its potassium and magnesium contribute to heart health by supporting blood pressure regulation.

*Per Ayurveda:

• Date sugar is considered warming, grounding, and nourishing, making it particularly suitable for Vata and Pitta doshas.
• It provides a gentle source of energy, and its natural sweetness is considered more balancing than the sharp sweetness of refined sugar.

 You might ask how to use date sugar? It works beautifully in baked goods like cookies, muffins, and cakes, or as a sprinkle over oatmeal, yogurt, or fruit for a wholesome touch of sweetness. Note that, because it’s ground dates rather than a dissolved sugar, it doesn’t fully dissolve in liquids, making it best suited for solid recipes or as a topping.

Our products containing date sugar: The Zesty lemon flavored Date A Millet Tea Biscuits

Einkorn whole wheat

Einkorn, the original and ancient grain, has emerged from the annals of history to captivate modern palates. with roots dating back 7500 BC einkorn is called the mother of all wheat. With a weak gluten structure, Einkorn is considered to be a more digestible wheat variety. Its exceptional nutty flavor and abundant nutritional benefits have caught the attention of health-conscious consumers and culinary enthusiasts alike. 

Our Einkorn flour is grown in the picturesque Wattsonton, PA, with organic methods emboding a connection to our past and a promise for a sustainable future. from its sun-soaked origins, einkorn embarks on a transformative journey to Rivervalley Community Grains in Marksboro, NJ. Here, Einkorn berries undergo stone milling, a meticulous process that retains its wholesome qualities and unique taste. we use the whole grain flour in our tea biscuits, with all its glorious bran, germ and endosperm.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Whole wheat increases body strength and nourishment
• Energetics of whole wheat is cool and heavy. wheat supports vata and pitta doshas

Based on ayurvedic principles, we use locally sourced whole wheat and the einkorn wheat variety because it has never been hybridized. To use Einkorn, you can replace your regular wheat flour with Einkorn wheat flour in the same quantity. einkorn flour will be a bit sticky and might take less water to hydrate. 

Our products containing this ingredient: The Einkorn Goodies 

Fennel seeds (foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel seeds are one pantry ingredient we would never go without. Not only can it make the food delicious, it supports wellness too.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Benefits of fennel seeds could include supporting digestion, lactation, calmness and clarity of mind, comfortable menstrual experience
• Energetics of fennel seeds is cool and dry. Fennel seeds support all the three doshas i.e., vata, pitta, kapha

Are you wondering how to use fennel seeds? To name a few ways, fennel seeds can be added to water to brew fennel tea, added as spice at the start of cooking, chewed as a digestive mouth freshener (1/2 a teaspoon raw or roasted).

Our products containing this ingredient: CCF Tea, Cup-It-Cool Tea, Golden Turmeric Blend

Ginger (zingiber officinale)

Ginger is a pungent rhizome revered by Ayurveda as a universal medicine. The properties of fresh and dry ginger can be different. we’ll keep it to dry ginger here.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Dry ginger is comforting when you experience cold, dampness or stagnation in the body e.g., cold and flu, slow metabolism, etc.
• Dry ginger is hot and dry. dry ginger supports kapha and vata dosha albeit for vata dosha it might be more beneficial to consume it with unctuous substances to balance out the dryness

Dry ginger can be used in a variety of ways. Our favorite ways to use dry ginger is herbal tea, spice mix, and pastilles for the winter season.

Our products containing this ingredient: Deconges Tea

Gymnema sylvestre aka gurmar (asclepiadaceae)

Gymnema sylvestre is called ‘gurmar’ in Sanskrit, which loosely translates to the ‘killer of sugar’. When placed on the tongue, gymnema leaves can numb sugar receptors on the tongue for a few minutes, which helps manage sugar cravings.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Gymnema can help curb sugar cravings and supports healthy blood sugar levels already within normal range
• It is drying, and supports pitta and kapha doshas

Commercially gymnema sylvestre is available as capsules or pills. Its leaves or powder can be used to brew herbal tea.

Pro tip - Gymnema tea can be too bitter by itself. It might be more palatable to brew it along with other herbs and a make a tea blend.  

Our products containing this ingredient: Control Sugar Delete Tea

Holy basil aka Tulsi (ocimum sanctum)

Holy basil known as tulsi in India is a green shrub from the lamiaceae family. this plant is literally worshipped in India for its myriad wellness benefits.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Having a tulsi plant at home is uplifting.
• Holy basil is an adaptogen i.e., it helps you respond to stress, anxiety and mental fatigue. It is an expectorant, digestive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and may help supporting healthy blood sugar levels already within normal range
• Tulsi supports vata and kapha doshas

If you have a holy basil plant, you could chew a few tulsi leaves every morning. while the tulsi leaves taste pungent and bitter, they make a delicious herbal tea. Tulsi ginger tea is commonly used from late fall to spring to keep warm and healthy.

Our products containing this ingredient: Control Sugar Delete Tea, Deconges Tea

Hibiscus (hibiscus sabdariffa)

Hibiscus belongs to the malvaceae plant family. Hibiscus flowers make great summer coolers for the right reasons!

*Per Ayurveda -

• Hibiscus benefits include supporting healthy blood pressure levels already within normal range. hibiscus is also considered a hair and skin tonic
• Hibiscus is cool and dry, and supports pitta and kapha doshas

Hibiscus tea is great whether you brew it like a hot tea. Wondering how to make a hibiscus sun tea for the summers? Just add dry hibiscus to ambient water and keeping it in the sun for a few hours. This astringent and tart tea is delicious on its own or with a dash of sweetener. You can also add it to your DIY hair oils and face packs.

Our products containing this ingredient: Control Sugar Delete Tea

Lavender (lavandula angustifolia)

Beautiful fragrant flowers from the lamiaceae i.e., mint family. If you really mean to ‘stop and smell the roses’, stop and smell the lavender. This nervine herb is bound to relax you!

*Per Ayurveda -

• Lavender has a carminative effect. Lavender can benefit sleep and calm the nerves
• Lavender is warm and dry, and supports pitta and kapha doshas

Lavender can be used in a tincture, essential oils and all sorts of aroma therapy products. One of the best ways to end your day is with a cup of lavender tea – be sure to mix it up with other calming herbs; lavender by itself can seem overbearing for a tea.

Our products containing this ingredient: Stress-Me-Not Tea

Lemon balm mint (melissa officinals)

These are leaves from the lamiaceae i.e., mint family, and are typically plucked for herbal use before the plant starts to flower.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Lemon balm benefits include supporting digestion. Lemon balm is a nervine herb and can support good sleep as well.
• Lemon balm is cool and dry, and it supports vata, pitta and kapha doshas

Lemon balm tea is one of the most common uses for this herb. Go ahead and pour a cuppa of this tea in the middle of the day, or your menstrual cycle to experience the calmness of this stress relief herb. It can also be used in tinctures, and essential oils.

Our products containing this ingredient: Calm-In-A-Teacup tea, Stress-Me-Not Tea

Licorice root (glycyrrhiza glabra)

This sweet tasting root with its slightly bitter undertone is more popularly used today in candies and drinks. But, there is so much more to it. Licorice root has a long history of use in holistic sciences such as Chinese traditional medicine and Ayurveda.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Licorice root may benefit sore throat and help calm the stomach. It is often used in herbal formulations to support respiration
• Licorice root is cooling, and supports vata and pitta doshas. It is also beneficial for kapha doshas in moderation

Licorice root tea is one of the most common uses apart from flavoring food and beverages.  

Our products containing this ingredient: Cup-It-Cool Tea, Deconges Tea

Nutmeg (myristica fragrans)

We’ve experienced the warmth and aroma of nutmeg in pumpkin spice and holiday desserts. It’s the seed of this plant from the myristicaceae family that we are referring to here. The nutmeg seed has pungent, astringent and bitter tastes and a tiny bit goes a loooong way!

*Per Ayurveda -

• Nutmeg it can be used for good sleep and stimulates digestion
• Nutmeg is warming, and supports vata and kapha doshas

Nutmeg with warm milk makes a great bedtime tonic for those struggling with sleep. Due to its beautiful aroma, nutmeg can be used as a culinary spice in cookies, desserts, rice pilafs and lentil stews

Our products containing this ingredient: Golden Turmeric Blend

Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum)

We often get questions about millets—what exactly are they, are millets gluten-free, are millets good for diabetes, and more. Here, we’ll break down the essentials.

Millets are ancient grains from the Poaceae (grass) family, with various types, each offering unique nutritional benefits. All millets are naturally gluten-free and nutrient-dense, making them a fantastic option for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. At AyurSome Wellness, we use Proso millet grown in California.

Proso millet has a low glycemic index and is high in fiber, which helps manage blood sugar levels, making it beneficial for people with diabetes or those seeking stable energy. The fiber in Proso millet also supports digestive health, while its magnesium and potassium content promotes heart health by helping to maintain normal blood pressure. Additionally, its antioxidants may help reduce oxidative stress.

Per Ayurveda:

• Proso millet is considered light and easy to digest, making it a great grain choice for supporting a balanced metabolism.
• It is especially beneficial for Vata and Kapha doshas, providing grounding and warmth.

Looking for ways to use Proso millet? Try it in savory waffles or crepes (soak for a few hours and blend into a batter) or replace rice in a veggie pilaf. You can also use millet flour to create glute free millet cookies or tortillas.

Bonus benefits of millets: Millets are an eco friendly grain for several reasons. For starters millets are drought resistant and can grow without the use of heavy fertilizers and pesticides. They are also resistant towards climate change because millets can grow even in unpredictable weather conditions and in fact improve soil fertility. All in all millets are an excellent choice for sustainability, food security and health!

Our products with Proso millet: The Zesty lemon flavored Date A Millet Tea Biscuits

Rose petals & buds (rosa centifolia)

Truly the king of hearts! in today’s world rose symbolizes romance, but in Ayurveda rose goes way beyond. Rose flower is considered a symbol of spirituality and anti-aging. The astringency, the color, the fragrance of roses are all calming.

*Per Ayurveda -

• Rose is governs the emotions and supports the heart chakra. Rose petals and buds may be beneficial for inflammation, skin eruptions, uplifting the heart and calming the stomach
• Rose is cool and dry, and is beneficial for pitta dosha

Rose tea is great for the summers especially when combined with other cooling herbs like coriander and licorice root. For extra coolness soak the loose leaf rose tea in a cup of water, let it sit under the moon light and have the moon tea in the morning. Rose water can be added to skin care routine. Rose water (Food grade) can be used desserts like milk pudding and cookies.

Our products containing this ingredient: Cup-It-Cool Tea

Turmeric (curcuma longa)

The most inexpensive edible gold! Turmeric belongs to the rhizome family. While we have experienced turmeric in the Americas rather lately, it has an extremely long history of use in everyday cooking in India and the Middle East. It’s hard to pen down the countless benefits of turmeric, and this bird eye view probably won’t even do justice to this golden spice. However, here we are!

*Per Ayurveda -

• Benefits of turmeric may include supporting inflammation, boosting immunity, improving skin, healing wounds and infections
• Turmeric is warm and dry. It is beneficial for vata, pitta and kapha doshas. For vata and pitta dosha balancing, it is best to use turmeric with a fat and cook with it

Raw turmeric can be added to many recipes at the start of cooking. Go ahead and try turmeric powder in your lentils, rice, meats, stir fries. It will make your food look pretty and support your health. A cup of golden milk can make a good light breakfast and a bedtime tonic.

Pro tip: curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. Add a bit of black pepper to turmeric to increase the curcumin absorption.

Our products containing this ingredient: Golden Turmeric Blend

*These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.