Welcome Spring with Spice Blends
Spring is the time of new beginnings! The snow of winter starts to melt, the rivers and streams start to rise, and plants send up new growth as they detect the shorter nights and longer days. Our own bodies and minds respond to this change in season, too, as they emerge from the cold winter filled with heavy and nourishing foods and fires warming our homes.
Our bodies yearn for cleansing and lightness, letting go of the heavy winter, and finding delight in fresh greens and clear, light soups with vegetables. Our bodies want to stretch into the warmer days, exercise, and shake off the excesses of winter. At the same time, our minds are eager to take in spring through all the senses: the sight of budding trees and flowers, the aroma of damp earth wafting upward through a warm breeze, the sound of birds returning to their nesting places, the sensations of fluctuating temperatures on our skin, and the taste of spring greens and vegetables.
This miraculous flow of life and nature with the change of seasons is often forgotten, buried by the busy-ness of our routines and activities. We’re happy to see the changes, but we often overlook what our bodies need during this time.
We can help our bodies clear out the heaviness of winter by adding warming, clearing spices to our diets. Spring spice blends heat up the body, helping to melt the winter freeze, improving circulation, and allowing the channels to flow freely. The two blends shown below can be made in advance and added to vegetables, soups, or any dish you like! (Thanks to Kate O’Donnell and Laura Plumb for these suggestions.).
Spice Blend #1 (makes 1/4 cup). Put the following spices in a glass jar, shake and store.
2 tablespoons ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cayenne or red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Spice Blend #2 (makes 1/4 cup): Grind the whole spices in a grinder, add to powdered spices in a glass jar, shake and store.
1 teaspoon whole coriander seed
1 teaspoon fenugreek seed
1 tablespoon whole cumin
1 tablespoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon ginger powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Pinch of clove powder
Ginger aids digestion and stimulates the appetite, maintains joint health, and eliminates toxins in the digestive system. Cinnamon supports healthy circulation, balancing digestion and pacifying stomach disorders. Turmeric has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties, also promoting healthy digestion and supporting joint health. Coriander strengthens the digestive fire, which has begun to dim with the moisture of spring. It also cools and soothes the digestive tract while it supports a healthy response to allergens. Fenugreek kindles the digestive fire, supporting the body’s ability to break down food. Clove is a warming spice that helps break up stagnant energy. Black pepper and cayenne have profound heating qualities and assist with assimilation of other plant compounds into the body from the digestive system.