Balancing Fruity Ice Cubes

Summer has finally arrived! In the hot weather our bodies create a natural craving for cooling and hydrating foods such as melons. They are 90% water and are very easy to digest, which is why they are best when eaten at least twenty minutes apart from other foods. If not, the melon will just sit for hours in the stomach while the other food is being digested, and often will ferment and cause digestive issues such as gas or bloating.

This recipe brings the balancing energetics of Holy Basil with the cooling aspects of watermelon and ice. Usually, you won’t see followers of Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine consuming large amounts of ice, especially during (and after) meals because it disrupts digestion. However, in moderation on a hot day and if taken with a slightly warming herb such as Holy Basil, the result can be just what our bodies need to say “ahhhhhhh.”

This recipe can either be made into a granita (slushy ice) or you can use the ice cubes in your water or iced tea.*

Balancing Fruity Ice Cubes

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon Holy Basil or Peppermint
2 cups water
1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
1 cup of watermelon juice (blended and strained from half of a miniature watermelon)

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Make the holy basil tisane using 1 tablespoon of holy basil (or peppermint) and infuse for 10 minutes
  2. Strain the tea
  3. Combine with the other remaining ingredients and stir
  4. Pour the liquid into the ice cube trays
  5. Freeze
  6. When frozen, pop the cubes out and place in a container in the freezer
  7. Use just as you would regular ice cubes or blend them to create a granita