The Six Tastes of Ayurveda

As with all things Ayurveda, each of the Six Tastes (Rasas) have specific qualities (Gunas). The Six Tastes are a guiding principle in Ayurveda, which states that like qualities increase each other, whereas opposites promote balance. Each of the Six Tastes are integral to our diet and physiologic needs. Knowing which Dosha (or Doshas) are prominent within you helps to determine the proper combination of tastes (Rasas) that you need. Ideally, each of the tastes are present at every meal – or at least every day – to ensure proper digestion and thwart future cravings.

All the tastes are important and have different functions in the mind and body, therefore one is not seen as “better” or “worse” than another. Your current Doshic balance (Vikruti), environment, lifestyle, age, and other qualities will guide you in choosing foods with particular properties to eat in larger or smaller quantities to promote or maintain balance, thereby reducing the chance of illness.

Samana: Foods that increase Dosha

Kopana: Foods that decrease Dosha

Swasthahita: Foods that maintain balance of unique Tridosha and health of individual

Rasa = Taste

Virya = Temperature of food (in terms of spiciness); ie hot = pepper; cold = milk. Generally astringent, bitter, and sweet are cooling; sour, pungent, and salty are heating

Vipaka = Post-digestive effect of a substance; conversion of taste after digestion:

Amla (sour); Madhura (sweet and salt); Katu (bitter, astringent, and pungent)

“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is right, medicine is of no need.”

- Ayurvedic Proverb

The Sweet Taste

Balances: Vata, Pitta
Aggravates: Kapha
Elements: Earth, Water
Virya (temperature): cooling
Vipaka (post-digestive effect): sweet
Gunas: heavy, cold, oily, soft, grounding, building (anabolic), nourishing
Positive Emotions: compassion, joy, bliss
Emotions of Excess: attachment, greed, jealousy
Affected Tissues: all 7 Dhatus
Directions of Movement: descending; stabilizes Apana Vayu
Additional Actions: emollient, diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory

Benefits:

Soothes burning sensations
Increases Ojas, improves longevity and strength

Contraindications:

Increases fat deposition; exacerbates Kapha

In Excess:

Increases ama (toxins)
Excess moisture (water) smothers digestive fire
Increases heaviness, laziness, edema, greed, obesity, diabetes

Sweet Foods:

Fruits:

Cantaloupes, dates, prunes, mangos, bananas

Vegetables:

Beets, cooked carrots, root vegetables

Grains:

Corn, rice, wheat

Legumes:

Chickpeas, red lentils, mung beans, navy beans

Nuts/Seeds:

Almonds, cashews, coconut, pumpkin seeds

Dairy & Eggs

Ghee, milk, eggs

Meat:

Beef, pork, salmon

Sweeteners:

Spices:

Basil, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, fennel, vanilla

The Sour Taste

Balances: Vata
Aggravates: Kapha, Pitta
Elements: Earth, Fire
Virya: heating
Vipaka: sour
Gunas: liquid, light, oily, hot
Positive Emotions: comprehension, appreciation
Emotions of Excess: jealousy, rejection, hate, criticism
Affected Tissues: all (except Artava – reproductive)
Directions of Movement: Downward (activates Apana Vayu)
Additional Actions: emollient, laxative, holds heat

Benefits:

Digestive: stimulates appetite, enhances digestive enzymes
Cleanses liver
Anti-flatulent
High in antioxidants

Contraindications:

Exacerbates Pitta – itching, excess heat, any skin conditions
In damp/hot conditions, the sour taste is not recommended in excess

In Excess:

Causes excessive dryness
Hyperacidity, heartburn, ulcers, diarrhea
Exacerbates skin conditions: psoriasis, eczema, acne, dermatitis, rashes

Sour Foods:

Fruits:

Citrus (Grapefruits, lemons, limes)

Vegetables:

Pickles, tomatoes

Grains:

Dough breads (sourdough)

Legumes:

None

Nuts/Seeds:

None

Dairy & Eggs

Butter, cheese, sour cream, yogurt

Meat:

None

Sweeteners:

None

Spices:

Lemon, lime, garlic

Other:

Vinegar, most fermented foods, alcohol

The Salty Taste

Balances: Vata
Aggravates: Kapha and Pitta
Elements: Water and Fire
Virya: mild heating
Vipaka: sweet
Gunas: heavy, oily, hot
Positive Emotions: courage, confidence, enthusiasm
Emotions of Excess: temptation, addiction, attachment, greed, irritability
Affected Tissues: Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Medda (fat), and Mejja (nerve)
Directions of Movement: Downward (activates Apana Vayu)
Additional Actions: increases appetite, laxative, expectorant

Benefits:

Increases salivation, digestion, absorption, nourishment
Strengthens muscle; provides moisture (maintains fluid balance)
Softens tissues

Contraindications:

Exacerbates Pitta – ulcer formation, aggravation; high blood pressure

In Excess:

Water retention, edema, high blood pressure
Increases burning sensations, inflammation, bleeding disorders, wrinkles, dry hair/skin
Depletes bone tissue

Foods:

Vegetables:

Celery, seaweed

Dairy & Eggs

Cottage cheese

Meat:

Tuna

Spices:

Table salt, rock salt, sea salt, soy sauce, tamarind

The Astringent Taste

Balances: Pitta and Kapha
Aggravates: Vata
Elements: Air and Earth
Virya: mild cooling
Vipaka: pungent
Gunas: dry, cold, heavy
Positive Emotions: stable, grounded
Emotions of Excess: depression, anxiety, rigidity, fear
Affected Tissues: Rasa (plasma); Rakta (blood); Mamsa (muscle); Artava (reproductive);
Directions of Movement: draws inward
Additional Actions: cools excess heat, hemostatic (reduces bleeding), vasoconstrictor

Benefits:

Absorbs excess moisture: reduces moisture in sweat, blood, stool, etc
Lekhana (scrapes fat in digestive tract)

Contraindications:

Dehydration; exacerbates Vata

In Excess:

Increases gas, bloating, constipation
Can smother digestive capacity

Foods:

Fruits:

Apples, green bananas, cranberries, pomegranates

Vegetables:

Sprouts, avocado, broccoli, cabbage, raw carrots, cauliflower, green beans, almost all raw vegetables

Grains:

Wheat pasta, rye

Legumes:

Almost all

Nuts/Seeds:

Popcorn

Meat:

Chicken (white), venison

Spices:

Basil, coriander, fennel, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, turmeric

The Pungent Taste

Balances: Kapha
Aggravates: Vata and Pitta
Elements: Fire and Air
Virya: heating
Vipaka: pungent
Gunas: hot, dry, light,
Positive Emotions: enthusiasm, concentration, creativity
Emotions of Excess: irritability, envy, anger
Affected Tissues: Rakta, Artava/Shukra
Directions of Movement: upward (Upana Vayu)
Additional Actions: vasodilator, diaphoretic, blood thinner

Benefits:

Essential at removing excess Kapha and ama from the body through it’s dry, hot, sharp properties. Cleanses and clarifies blood and organs; removes excess congestion, toxins.

Contraindications:

If excess heat/Pitta is already present, pungent foods will exacerbate it. Avoid in high acid, ulcer, high Pitta, infertility

In Excess:

While some pungent flavors help heat a cool Vata, in excess it will lead to dehydration and depletion.

Foods:

Vegetables:

Chilies, garlic, onion, mustard greens, radishes, raw spinach

Grains:

Buckwheat, spelt

Nuts/Seeds:

Mustard Seeds

Spices:

Almost all unless cooling - pepper, cayenne, dry ginger, hing, mustard seed, cloves

The Bitter Taste

Balances: Pitta and Kapha
Aggravates: Vata
Elements: Air and Ether
Virya: cooling
Vipaka: pungent
Gunas: cool, light, dry
Positive Emotions: intuitiveness, self-awareness
Emotions of Excess: rejection, loneliness, boredom
Affected Tissues: Rasa (plasma); Rakta (blood); Medda (fat); Mejja (nervous); Artava/Shukra (reproductive)
Directions of Movement: downward (activates Apana Vayu)
Additional Actions: catabolic; diuretic; alterative; anti-inflammatory; reduces fat

Benefits:

Lekhana – scrapes fat; cleansing and reducing; purifies body fluids; digestive – enhances release of digestive enzymes

Contraindications:

Exacerbates high Vata state or cold, dry, light qualities, pregnancy (use limited amounts)

In Excess:

Low appetite, constipation, high Vata condition, reduces reproductive qualities

Foods:

Vegetables:

Bitter melon, burdock, leafy greens, collards, artichoke

Other

Sesame seeds, sesame oil, coffee, dark chocolate

Spices:

Cumin, dill, turmeric, fenugreek

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