Natural Balance tea, by Pukka Herbs

Sebastian Pole of Pukka Herbs is a pioneer of Ayurveda in the UK, and his products have gone mainstream – helping to share the wisdom of Ayurveda. The wide selection of Pukka Herbs teas are everywhere, and growing in popularity every day – my friend in New York demands I send her favourite (Three Liquorice) in the post. Sebastian’s tea recipe for Natural Balance – a fiery, digestion enhancer – is designed to get Agni going (see here), helping you burn fat via a lively digestive fire. Assembling it feels like a proper apothecary session, working with the medicine of nature. It’s tangy and pungent with natural caffeine from the green tea. Sip as a morning cuppa or with lunch, but no later. This is also a great pick-me-up – premix it in ajar and take it to work with a little bottle of orange essential oil, swapping the cinnamon stick for ground cinnamon and leaving out the orange zest. The office will smell amazing, so be prepared to share!

Serves 2–3

4g cinnamon stick

2g ground ginger

2g orange zest

2g matcha tea powder

lg freshly ground black pepper

lg ground turmeric

500ml (2 cups) boiling water

2–3 drops of orange essential oil

1 Put all of the ingredients, apart from the water and the orange essential oil, in a teapot.

2 Add the boiling water. Steep for 10–15 minutes, then strain. Add 1 drop of orange essential oil to each cup.