By Rebecca Airmet — Last Updated: July 10, 2025

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, places strong emphasis on seasonal routines (known as Ritucharya), especially for balancing the body's energies (called doshas). In the hot summer months (Grishma Ritu), the intense heat increases the Pitta dosha, which governs heat, metabolism, and transformation in the body. Excess Pitta can lead to issues like inflammation, acidity, irritability, and skin rashes.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, alcohol consumption can also lead to issues like inflammation and irritability. It’s also not so great for our livers, among other harms. So subbing out those summer cocktails for cooling drinks that are naturally sweet, hydrating, and calming can be a great way to balance Pitta during summer.

Here are some classic and accessible cooling ingredient suggestions from Ayurveda:

Coconut water

Naturally sweet, hydrating, and rich in electrolytes

Helps balance Pitta and soothes heat-induced dehydration

Mint

Naturally refreshing and relaxing

Disperses heat and excess fluids in the tissues

Clears mucus from the respiratory tract and opens the sinuses

Cucumber

Hydrating and naturally cooling

Relieves headache and insomnia

Supports healthy, clear skin, digestion, and weight loss

Fennel

Sweet and stimulating, facilitates both appetite and digestion

Cooling herb that calms the mind and increases clarity

Protects the liver and supports kidney health

Aloe vera

Rejuvenating tonic that balances all three doshas

Aids digestion, supports liver health, and promotes skin health

Supports the immune system

Any of these ingredients can be incorporated into delicious summer mocktails.

The Bootleg:

This minty refresher is a favorite of Green Lotus owner MB. Try this one for an easy backyard party drink for lots of people.

Ingredients:

1 can lemonade concentrate (not pink)

1 can limeade concentrate

1 bunch mint leaves (washed and de-stemmed)

Instructions:

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Place 2T of this mix into a cup with ice

Add a squeeze of fresh lime and soda water, stir, and garnish with mint.

Makes a lot. You can also keep this mix in the freezer and thaw out just enough to scoop for your next drink.

Summer Twister:

This delightful cocktail hydrates and refreshes with cucumber and watermelon, while basil adds a peppery twist. The recipe below makes about 12 oz of mix, or 24 to 36 ounces of prepared drink. The mix will keep in the fridge for a day or three, but the pulp will start to separate from the juice almost immediately.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup prepared aloe vera juice

1/3 cup cucumber, peeled and cubed

1 cup seedless watermelon, cubed

1/4 cup (4 tbsp) fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste)

2-4 tbsp honey or agave syrup (adjust to taste)

5-6 Fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish

Instructions:

Blend aloe vera juice, watermelon, cucumber, and basil until smooth. Add lemon juice and sweetener to taste. Combine approximately 2 parts mix with 1 to 2 parts still or sparkling water to taste. Serve over ice with fresh basil leaf garnish.

Coconut Fennel Martini:

This unusual mocktail is a refreshingly bright sipper. You’ll want more than just one!

Ingredients:

2 parts coconut water

1 part fresh lime juice

1 part fennel simple syrup

Fennel Syrup:

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 small-medium fennel bulb, chopped

Dash of salt

Heat water and sugar to a boil, remove from heat, add fennel and allow to steep for 15-30 minutes to taste, strain, cover and store for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in a martini shaker with ice, shake well to mix, and strain into glass. Alternately, combine in glass with ice and stir.

Ayurvedic Tips

Finally, if you really want to support balance and calm Pitta in the summer, follow these general Ayurvedic tips:

Avoid ice-cold drinks before or with a meal – they can weaken Agni (digestive fire)
Prefer sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes in summer
Avoid pungent, salty, and sour tastes that aggravate Pitta

You can also check out more summer mocktail recipes in this article from last summer, or consider an Ayurveda consultation at Green Lotus for personalized evaluation and recommendations!

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Rebecca Airmet is a writer, editor, bookkeeper, breathwork facilitator, coach, and staff member at Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center. She is also editor of the monthly newsletter. She is deeply interested in holistic health and has maintained a personal meditation and yoga practice for nearly thirty years. She is looking forward to completing her 200-hour yoga teacher training in the near future.

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