Pitta Balancing Recipe: Cooling Watermelon Rose Mocktail

Summertime seems to be flying by, and we did not want to say farewell to the season without sharing a cooling, pitta-balancing recipe! Summer, Ayurvedically known as pitta season, is the time of year when the fire element is the most predominant in the natural world. You can easily feel the qualities of fire in our environment through the hot temperatures, longer days and, in some regions (like ours), dryer climates. Although we adore time spent under the sun, as the heat of pitta season continues and we feel its imbalancing effects (like sunburn, burnout, aggravation and heat exhaustion), it reminds us to tap into our Ayurvedic wisdom and balance the fire element with its opposing element, water.

To invite in the balancing qualities of water and harmonize the hot nature of the fire element, Ayurveda recommends practices like pitta balancing yoga, cooling pranayama, calming meditation, swimming in refreshing water, soothing abhyanga and heat-reducing skincare. This ancient medicine also emphasizes the importance of incorporating cooling, pitta balancing foods during the summertime or whenever pitta dosha is out of balance. Similarly, it is also essential to think about the types of beverages we consume this time of year so that we do not overly heat the body. Hence, in celebration of summer and the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, we would like to share our Watermelon Rose Mocktail, crafted to bring a delicious, refreshing reprieve to the sizzling summer temperatures.

What makes this mocktail so balancing to pitta dosha is the cooling nature of its ingredients. Watermelon, a beloved summer fruit, is made up of 90% water, making it extremely beneficial in keeping the body and its tissues hydrated (it makes sense why we all love to enjoy watermelon on a hot summer day). In addition, this mocktail’s inclusion of rose harmonizes the mind and imparts a soothing, loving energy, while fresh mint gently cools agni (digestion) and freshly squeezed lime cleanses excess heat from the gastrointestinal tract.

Although there are a few steps to making our Watermelon Rose Mocktail, we are certain you will enjoy the process of connecting with these seasonal ingredients and creating this cooling summer beverage. Not only will you learn how to make our Watermelon Rose Mocktail, but we also share the recipes for Rose Sun Tea and Watermelon Mint Juice, which you can further integrate into more summer recipes. Ultimately, you will see just how simple it is to use only a few whole foods and herbs to create a fancy crowd-pleaser. 

¼ cup PAAVANI Rose Petals

4 cups water

Cheesecloth

2 32 oz Glass Mason Jars

1. Add 1/4 cup dried PAAVANI Rose Petals into a 32-ounce glass mason jar and add 4 cups of fresh water, gently stirring together. Fasten the lid securely.

2. Place the mason jar outside in direct sun with the glass bottom facing up towards the sun. Allow the roses to steep for 3-5 hours. *For a stronger tea, let it steep for longer than 5 hours and for a lighter-tasting tea, let it steep for less than 3 hours.

3. Once your Rose Sun Tea is steeped to your liking, bring it back inside.

4. Line your mesh strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth.

5. Strain your Rose Sun Tea, pouring the tea through the cheesecloth-lined strainer and into your second 32-ounce mason jar.

6. Fasten the lid securely and place your Rose Sun Tea in the fridge. Discard the leftover rose petals outside in your garden so they can naturally decompose. 

1 small watermelon*

4 sprigs of fresh mint leaves

*You may not use all of the watermelon to prepare the juice, so feel free to slice any leftover watermelon and enjoy it as you wish.

1. Rinse the watermelon and slice it in half.

2. With a measuring spoon, scoop 25 tablespoons of watermelon into a blender. *Don’t worry if your tablespoons are not precise.

3. Add any watermelon juice remaining in the watermelon into the blender.

4. Blend on high for 20 seconds.

5. Place your mesh strainer on top of a 32-ounce mason jar.

6. Keeping the mesh strainer balanced and straight (we used a mason jar to prop it up), slowly pour the watermelon juice from the blender through the mesh strainer and into the 32-ounce mason jar. Discard the watermelon pulp.

7. Roughly chop the mint leaves.

8. Rinse out your blender, pour the strained watermelon juice back into it, and add the chopped mint leaves. Blend on high for 15-20 seconds.

9. Pour the Watermelon Mint Juice back into the 32-ounce mason jar.

10. Fasten the 32-ounce mason jar with its lid & store it in the refrigerator. 

Serving Size: 1

4 oz Watermelon Mint Juice

2 oz Rose Sun Tea

Juice of ¼ - ½ lime wedge depending on how tart you like your mocktail

0.5 oz sparkling mineral water

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Pour Watermelon Mint Juice, Rose Sun Tea and freshly squeezed lime juice into the shaker.

3. Shake the cocktail shaker for about 30 seconds until well chilled.

4. Strain into a glass.

5. Pour sparkling mineral water floater on top of the juice.

6. Garnish with a small slice of watermelon, spring of mint or lime wheel.

7. Sip, refresh & enjoy!

Once your Watermelon Rose Mocktail is prepared, we hope you can sit back, relax and enjoy the delicious, balancing ingredients of summer. May each sip bring a cooling relief to the burgeoning heat associated with pitta season. Here’s to a wonderful rest of your summer with a healthy, flavorful mocktail by your side!