DIY Herbal Spice Blends
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