
Summertime seems to be flying by, and we did not want to say farewell to the season without sharing a cooling, pitta-balancing recipe! Summer, Ayurvedically known as pitta season, is the time of year when the fire element is the most predominant in the natural world. You can easily feel the qualities of fire in our environment through the hot temperatures, longer days and, in some regions (like ours), dryer climates. Although we adore time spent under the sun, as the heat of pitta season continues and we feel its imbalancing effects (like sunburn, burnout, aggravation and heat exhaustion), it reminds us to tap into our Ayurvedic wisdom and balance the fire element with its opposing element, water.
To invite in the balancing qualities of water and harmonize the hot nature of the fire element, Ayurveda recommends practices like pitta balancing yoga, cooling pranayama, calming meditation, swimming in refreshing water, soothing abhyanga and heat-reducing skincare. This ancient medicine also emphasizes the importance of incorporating cooling, pitta balancing foods during the summertime or whenever pitta dosha is out of balance. Similarly, it is also essential to think about the types of beverages we consume this time of year so that we do not overly heat the body. Hence, in celebration of summer and the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, we would like to share our Watermelon Rose Mocktail, crafted to bring a delicious, refreshing reprieve to the sizzling summer temperatures.
What makes this mocktail so balancing to pitta dosha is the cooling nature of its ingredients. Watermelon, a beloved summer fruit, is made up of 90% water, making it extremely beneficial in keeping the body and its tissues hydrated (it makes sense why we all love to enjoy watermelon on a hot summer day). In addition, this mocktail’s inclusion of rose harmonizes the mind and imparts a soothing, loving energy, while fresh mint gently cools agni (digestion) and freshly squeezed lime cleanses excess heat from the gastrointestinal tract.
Although there are a few steps to making our Watermelon Rose Mocktail, we are certain you will enjoy the process of connecting with these seasonal ingredients and creating this cooling summer beverage. Not only will you learn how to make our Watermelon Rose Mocktail, but we also share the recipes for Rose Sun Tea and Watermelon Mint Juice, which you can further integrate into more summer recipes. Ultimately, you will see just how simple it is to use only a few whole foods and herbs to create a fancy crowd-pleaser.
¼ cup PAAVANI Rose Petals
4 cups water
Cheesecloth
2 32 oz Glass Mason Jars
1 small watermelon*
4 sprigs of fresh mint leaves
*You may not use all of the watermelon to prepare the juice, so feel free to slice any leftover watermelon and enjoy it as you wish.
4 oz Watermelon Mint Juice
2 oz Rose Sun Tea
Juice of ¼ – ½ lime wedge depending on how tart you like your mocktail
0.5 oz sparkling mineral water
Once your Watermelon Rose Mocktail is prepared, we hope you can sit back, relax and enjoy the delicious, balancing ingredients of summer. May each sip bring a cooling relief to the burgeoning heat associated with pitta season. Here’s to a wonderful rest of your summer with a healthy, flavorful mocktail by your side!