03/08/2025
There is something sacred and spiritual that often arises when we drink tea with intention. A feeling of connectedness that has its own healing quality washes over us.
In ancient Japan, Buddhist monks created elaborate tea ceremonies partly designed to help participants experience more peace of mind and serenity.
Today I want to share a recipe that not only features healing herbs such as ginger, mint, and basil, which offer many health benefits like aiding digestion, but that also invites you into a place of connection, ritual, and intention… all elements that foster a healing environment for your entire being.
I learned this recipe from my dear friend and Sacred Science team member Mileen Patel. He makes this every single morning and adds intention to the entire process, from the making of the tonic all the way through to the ingestion of it. Mileen does this by infusing thoughts - spoken aloud or silently - that focus on what he wants the tonic to provide him with.
For instance, more energy and vitality, peace, openness to love, surrendering to the unknown. (We offer more instruction on this in the recipe.)
The bottom line: preparing and drinking this beverage is an invitation to turn the self-care of your mind, body, and spirit into a positive habit that feeds into a virtuous cycle.
There’s a lot to play with in this formula, beyond your intentions. You can use just the herbs, and/or use more or less of any ingredient to suit your taste. For those practicing Ayurveda, you can wait until it cools to room temperature to add in the honey.
Ginger Intention Tonic
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger (peel before grating)
* ¼ cup mint, basil, or chopped lemongrass (your choice)
* 1 to 2 pinches of finely ground Himalayan salt
* 2 to 3 teaspoons lime or lemon juice
* 2 to 3 teaspoons raw honey
Preparation
1. Heat 8 cups of water in a saucepan or pot until it's boiling.
2. While it's heating up, start thinking about what this tonic will be for you today.
3. Add the ginger and your choice of green herb.
4. Turn the heat down to a simmer (the greens may stay at the top, but the ginger should be moving around).
5. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes (you should have about 5 cups remaining).
6. While it's simmering, start another ritual or practice, such as meditating, exercising, going for a walk, breath work, squats, journaling, drawing, dancing, stretching ... anything you enjoy.
7. Cut the heat and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how hot you like your tonic.
8. While it's cooling, continue your ritual or start a different, shorter one.
9. Add the salt, then the juice, and finally the honey.
10. Stir the tonic 10 times counterclockwise and then 10 times clockwise, until the honey is dissolved. Repeat if necessary.
11. Put your hands over the container and look at the water, noticing your reflection.
12. Take a moment to think or say whatever you want to infuse the tonic with and subsequently ingest, such as hydration, detoxification, energy, nourishment, gratitude, abundance, or a good rest of your day. There's no right or wrong intention as it's personalized to you.
13. While continuing to look at the water and your reflection, think or say the words "thank you, I love you." It's hard not to smile when you do this.
14. Strain the tonic and enjoy it warm with the energy of your intention.
NOTE: You can also enjoy this drink chilled. Sprinkle in a little roasted ground cumin and you'll have Indian Lemonade with a little kick… and a lot of intention.
Enjoy!
