DIY Herbal Spice Blends

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We love the holiday season, but it can get intense and expensive. Around this time of year we love to teach workshops on DIY Herbal Spice Blends to stay grounded and nourished through this busy time of year. And, as a DIY gift option for witchy friends! Herbal spice blends are special to us because they are at the heart of our practice as kitchen herbalists. They are simple to make, super effective, and delicious!

Spices are inherently medicinal, they are the original everyday medicines. Our ancestors knew that aromatic spices like fennel and cumin help us to digest a hearty meal, and pungent roots like ginger and turmeric promote circulation in the depths of winter. We like to take the classics a step further by adding in adaptogens and tonics that are specific to our constitutions.

Whether you run hot, cold, dry, and/or damp, there are ways you can adjust each blend to suite you—or a friend! If you’re confused about your friend’s constitution, just mirror the season. For instance, winter is generally a Kapha season in Ayurveda, also known as Earth + Water elements and Cold + Wet qualities. In our practice, we believe opposites help us to restore balance. So, naturally we want to make blends warming and drying to restore balance in the winter season.



Here are some of our favorite spice blends, with recommended herbal add-ins for each elemental body, season, and dosha. Please note that dosages are dependent on the batch size, we suggest using your tastes buds as a guide. Try making a small batch and test your results! As for the adaptogens in the curries, you want to make sure to add enough to get a regular dose in, so we suggest about an ounce (or a bit less) of adaptogenic powder per eight ounce mason jar.

CURRY

This spice blend needs no explanation, but we will say curries are our favorite way to get in adaptogens. Whether you are making a soup, stew, or dressing, you can use this spice blend almost everyday. For those of you wondering, adaptogens are herbs that help restore balance and overall function of the body. They are great for folks who are wanting to support their nervous systems, especially after a season when you’re feeling depleted from a go-go-go lifestyle.

  • VATA | ETHER + AIR | COLD + DRY:

    • Maca powder

    • Ashwagandha powder

  • PITTA | FIRE + WATER | HOT + WET:

    • Shatavari powder

  • KAPHA | EARTH + WATER | COLD + WET:

    • Maca powder

    • Ashwagandha powder

GOMASIO

A slightly crunchy sesame and seaweed based salt blend that comes from Japan. Great over rice, warm massaged kale salads, and really any vegetable dish. Use this recipe as your base, and add in some mixings below.

  • VATA | ETHER + AIR | COLD + DRY:

    • Tulsi, dried, cut and sifted

    • Garlic flakes

  • PITTA | FIRE + WATER | HOT + WET:

    • Nettle, dried, cut and sifted

    • Fennel seeds

  • KAPHA | EARTH + WATER | COLD + WET:

    • Tulsi, dried, cut and sifted

    • Chili flakes

HERBES DE PROVENCE

With oregano, thyme, and lavender already in the blend, this mix is packed full of medicine. Here is a simple recipe that you can use as your base, and add in any of the below for extra herbal umph! We love using this in frittatas for Sunday brunch.

  • VATA | ETHER + AIR | COLD + DRY:

    • Tulsi, dried, cut and sifted

    • Rosemary dried, cut and sifted

  • PITTA | FIRE + WATER | HOT + WET:

    • Nettle, dried, cute and sifted

    • Lemon balm, dried, cut and sifted

    • Roses, dried, cut and sifted

  • KAPHA | EARTH + WATER | COLD + WET:

    • Tulsi, dried, cut and sifted

    • Rosemary dried, cut and sifted

HERBAL SALT

We love using Atlantic Grey, French Sea Salt, and anything from Sonoma County. What’s most important is using no table salt, earth based only. Add in whatever combinations you feel called to, and let intuition be your guide. Here is the basic recipe, by Mountain Rose.

  • VATA | ETHER + AIR | COLD + DRY:

    • Rosemary powder

    • Tulsi powder

    • Dulse, or other seaweed powder

    • Garlic powder

  • PITTA | FIRE + WATER | HOT + WET:

    • Lemon balm powder

    • Nettle powder

    • Fennel seed powder

    • Dulse, or other seaweed powder

  • KAPHA | EARTH + WATER | COLD + WET:

    • Cayenne powder

    • Rosemary dried, cut and sifted

    • Tulsi powder

    • Dulse, or other seaweed powder



Need tips on how to purchase these herbs?

Learn more about our favorite HERBAL resources, here.