Recipe: Agni Tea

Agni, the digestive fire, is our body's ability to absorb nutrients from food and plays a central role in Ayurveda. Only when our Agni works well - i.e. it is neither too weak nor too strong - do we feel energetic and fit after meals.

In other words, our digestive fire is responsible for digestion, absorption and assimilation of the nutrients we consume and converts food into energy. It also regulates our body temperature.

If our Agni is disturbed, however, we feel lethargic and exhausted after a meal. We might feel uncomfortable or even be in pain. It is therefore essential that we be mindful of Agni and nurture it.

One way to do this is by drinking Agni tea. It is a simple drink that helps regulate and stimulate the digestive system.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 litre of water
• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
• 2 handfuls of chopped ginger roots
• 2 tablespoons of Sucanat or another sweetener
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of rock salt
• Juice of half a lime

PREPARATION

1. Bring the above ingredients to a boil, with the exception of the lime juice, then let it simmer for a total of 20 minutes.
2. Take the pot off the stove and let it cool for a few minutes.
3. Now add the lime juice. (Do not boil the lime juice.)
4. Pour the tea into a thermos and enjoy it throughout the day.