FRESH GRAPE JUICE

4 cups, 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups purple or red seedless grapes, rinsed

• 1 1/2 cups water

• 1/4 tsp of cardamom seeds, freshly ground (optional)

• 1/2 inch fresh ginger, grated (optional but adds an extra digestive and immunity umph)

DIRECTIONS

1. Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Strain the juice into a bowl or pitcher using a tight mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the grape skins. Press down/ squeeze the grape pulp to extract any extra juices.

3. Serve in a glass and enjoy!

#drinks #kidfriendly #summer #vata #pitta #kapha

Recipe adapted from Joyfulbelly.com

Notes

• You can make this grape juice a variety of ways. You can leave out the spices and just have fresh grape juice (nothing wrong with that :)). You can leave in the spices and have almost a grape chai drink (would be slighty more warming but more nourishing and strengthening to digestion. You could add a 1/4 tsp each of ground fennel and cumin instead of the other spices. But regardless of how you make it, it makes for a great drink, that is great for the body during summertime.

• Grape juice clears the body of excess heat, burning sensations, anger, inflamed digestion and/or low appetite, nourishing and building the blood and reproductive tissue.

• A classic remedy for anger and hostility in Ayurveda is 1 cup of grape juice mixed with 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground fennel, 1/2 tsp sandalwood powder - a nice cooling and calming drink for overheated angry pittas :) - Recipe from Vasant Lad's The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies