Seasonal berries are at farm stands and PYO all over northern hemisphere. Summer is here, align with pitta season and enjoy fresh local fruit. Observe the seasonal shifts and plug into the stuff that celebrates what is going on in your world. Pick and eat locally grown fruits, vegetables, and seasonal berries all summer. The more you align with what is, the more sense things make and the more joy it brings.

Ritucharya, seasonal alignment is a tenant of Ayurveda.  Ritucharya is a choice to align with the larger rhythms of light and dark, warm and cold, die-off and new growth. In the northern hemisphere, summer is here, and we are in pitta season. The time of light growth and transformation.

Seasonal Berries Have Healthy Impact on the Dosha

Berries have a combination of sweet, sour, and astringent tastes.  Because of this in moderation, they support balancing all the dosha. There is a bit of difference in the recommendations from different Ayurvedic doctors, but most agree that berries are a healthy choice in moderation.  Pitta & Vata eat ripe sweet berries, and Kapha goes for the slightly less mature sour and astringent taste.

FRUIT	NORTHERN HEMISPHERE SEASON	TASTE	KAPHA	PITTA	VATA
STRAWBERRIES	6/5 – 7/1	sweet, sour & astringent	Okay	Favor	Favor
BLUEBERRIES	7/15 – 9/10	sweet, sour	Favor	Favor	Favor
RASPBERRIES	7/1 – 9/30	sweet, sour & astringent	Favor	Okay	Favor
BLACKBERRIES	7/10 -7/30	sweet, sour & astringent	Favor	Favor	Favor

Why I Love To Pick Fruit

I love the energy of growing plants and want to connect in.  Orchards are in bloom all around where I live.  I make it a habbit each year to go out and pick fresh local fruit to enjoy.

This is a well-established tradition, I grew up picking blueberries, apples, and pears every year as an inexpensive way to have fruit throughout the winter. We picked during the summer and fall and stored the fruit in the basement. My mom made sauces, crisps, blueberry, apple, and pear pies.

I still enjoy aligning with pitta season, picking fruit starting with berries.  The warmth on my back, earth energy under my feet, and the feeling of new growth all around me bring me peace and ease. Before Ayurveda, I used to make jam, can and freeze the flats of berries I picked just like my mom did.  Now I pick less and enjoy fresh local fruit all summer and fall.

Berries 4 Ways

There are four main ways I prepare freshly picked fruit for my family and me.  Raw, cooked, dried, and fermented fruits are delicious.  The dried and fermented versions preserve the fruit, add variety and extend the season.

Raw

Summer is the best time to eat raw foods, fruits, and berries.  The natural fire of pitta season helps your agni (digestive fire) stay balanced. A cup of berries is a flavorful light breakfast or mid-afternoon snack.  Add some fresh spearmint for an extra treat.  Put berries into a smoothie with greens for an occasional healthy treat.

Cooked

Cook berries into a sauce with spices for yummy depth of flavor.   Berries cook down quickly.  Store it in the fridge for a couple of days.  Add blueberry or raspberry sauce to your morning cereal instead of milk or use it to flavor granola. Berries make fresh summer desserts, crumbles, pies, and cakes. 

Dried Fruit (less ideal for Vata)

Slice fruit into 1/4 inch thick pieces then dehydrate for a crunchy treat.  Slicing works best with strawberries.  For raspberries, I just cut them in half and give them a lot of time. Or you can make fruit leather . You grind up fruit add a sweetener and spices then spread it out on release paper and dehydrate it.

Fermented Fruit (less ideal for Pitta)

Fermented Fruit is a growing edge for me.  I plan to try this recipe and see how it goes. Enjoy the aspects of seasonal alignment that make you feel good.  Try picking and preserving fresh berries this season!

Ayurselfcare’s purpose is to educate on the benefits of Ayurveda. This blog is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment, or advice. All the material here is for learning purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.