happy fall! nothing makes me feel more excited than drinking something warm on the first cool-ish day after summer. in colorado, the leaves just started changing and i am hype to dial in my hygge for the winter.

fall is vata season- cool, dry, crisp and full of movement. you may feel more in tune with your creativity after the go go go of pitta season. if your vikruti is balanced, this may be an easy transition. if you have an excess of vata, this season may bring heightened anxiety and gut issues.

apple cider to the rescue! i can think of nothing more comforting than a mug of apple cider in the fall (except maybe my ayurvedic pumpkin spice latte). i prefer to make mine from scratch- the stuff you buy in stores often has added sugar or is from concentrate. as a bonus, cooking is a great grounding exercise for excess vata.

what is ayurveda?

ayurveda is the world’s oldest healthcare system. it stems from the vedas, an 8000 year old set of texts from what is now india. it has adapted throughout the years and is still practiced as a holistic way to take care of the physical and mental.

if you’re new to ayurveda, check out my ayurveda for beginners post!

how apple cider balances the doshas

cooked apples are amazing at balancing all the doshas. raw apples can increase vata dosha, but by introducing heat and softness they become grounding.

store bought apple cider can raise kapha dosha because of the added sugar. as a kapha dominant person, i wanted to make sure this apple cider was nourishing while still being yummy. all of the spices help balance the cool, wet nature of kapha.

if served cold, apple cider is a great was to balance pitta with some spice adjustments. more on serving temperature below.

a note about serving temperature for your dosha

in ayurveda, serving temerature is just as imporant as ingredients in terms of influencing the doshas. the preparation and presentation are all part of the holistic nourishment experience. in general, drinks should be served lukewarm. in the fall you may want to adjst to your individual needs

firely pitta should never drink very hot liquids, as it increases heat in the system and can cause more of an imbalance. pitta dominant people are the only ones who can be drinking iced beverages, which is still great for apple cider!

vata and kapha can drink slightly warmer liquids, but never scortching. you should never get close to burning your tongue. iced beverages are out of the question, as it raises the cold qualities in kapha and vata.

if you would like to learn more about how to balance the doshas in fall, read my ayurvedic guide to fall.