What are Rasa of Spices and herbs for Ayurveda cooking?
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Spices, herbs, oils, and dairy products are used to add and balance the six tastes (Rasa) for complete digestion and nutrition. Ayurveda meal is not highly spices, only small amounts are used on as needed basis. Ghee is
used for cooking oil, though it is high in saturated fats.
Spices Herbs Fats and Dairy
|
Tastes (Rasa)
|
Dry Spices
|
| Ajwain (Carom) |
Pungent |
| Amchoor (Dry mango powder) |
Sour Astringent |
| Anise seed |
Pungent |
| Asafetida (Hing) |
Pungent |
| Bay leaf (Tej Patta) |
Pungent, Bitter |
| Black Pepper |
Pungent |
| Cardamom (Black, Green, White) |
Sweet Pungent |
| Cassia |
Sweet Bitter Pungent |
| Cayenne |
Pungent |
| Chili Pepper Red |
Pungent |
| Cinnamon |
Sweet Bitter Pungent |
| Cloves |
Pungent |
| Coriander Seeds |
Bitter Pungent Astringent |
| Cumin Seeds |
Pungent |
| Degi Mirch (Paprika) |
Pungent |
| Fennel |
Sweet Pungent |
| Fenugreek seeds |
Astringent Bitter |
| Ginger Powder |
Pungent Sweet |
| Honey |
Sweet, Astringent |
| Mace |
Astringent, Sour, Pungent |
| Mustard Seeds |
Pungent |
| Nutmeg |
Sweet Astringent |
| Pomegranate |
Sweet, Sour Astringent |
| Poppy seeds |
Sweet Astringent |
| Pulse (Dal) |
Sweet Astringent |
| Saffron |
Astringent Bitter |
| Salt (Table salt, Sea salt, Rock salt) |
Salty |
| Sesame seeds |
Sweet Astringent Bitter |
| Sugar (Refined, Raw) |
Sweet |
| Tamarind |
Sour Astringent |
| Turmeric |
Bitter Pungent Astringent |
Fresh Herbs
|
| Garlic Fresh |
Pungent |
| Ginger Fresh |
Pungent |
| Cilantro |
Astringent Sweet |
| Hari Mirch (Green chili pepper) |
Pungent |
| Onion |
Pungent |
| Peppermint |
Sweet |
| Tomatoes |
Sour Astringent |
Dairy products
|
| Heavy Whipping cream |
Sweet |
| Khoya Batti |
Sweet |
| Khoya Chikna |
Sweet |
| Khoya Daanedar |
Sweet Sour |
| Malai (Cream) |
Sweet |
| Yogurt |
Sour Astringent |
Cooking Oils and Fats
|
| Butter (American un-salted) |
Sweet Astringent |
| Coconut oil |
Sweet |
| Ghee |
Sweet |
| Makhan (Indian cultured Butter) |
Sweet Sour |
| Mustard Oil |
Pungent |
| Peanut oil |
Sweet Astringent |
| Sesame oil |
Sweet Bitter Astringent |
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Inter-relationship of Elements Rasa and Dosha
Human body and foods are composed of five elements. The Rasa in foods are composed of the basic elements,
resulting in cooling or heating effect. Human body is composed of three constitutional systems called Dosha,
which in turn are also composed of basic elements. Rasa effect the Dosha which needs to be in balance for
optimum physical and mental health.
Tastes Rasa
|
Dosha
|
Type
|
Elements
|
Heating/ Cooling
|
Vata
(Air, Ether)
|
Pitta
(Fire Water)
|
Kapha
(Earth Water)
|
| Sweet |
Earth, Water |
Cooling |
Decrease |
Decrease |
Increase |
| Sour |
Earth, Fire |
Heating |
Decrease |
Increase |
Increase |
| Salty |
Fire, Water |
Slightly heating |
Decrease |
Increase |
Increase |
| Pungent |
Fire, Air |
Heating |
Increase |
Increase |
Decrease |
| Astringent |
Air, Earth |
Cooling, Cause drying |
Increase |
Decrease |
Decrease |
| Bitter |
Air, Ether |
Cooling, Drying |
Increase |
Decrease |
Decrease |
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