Classical Formula

Chyavanprash

SanskritChyavanaprashaMade fromClassical herbal jam with an amla (Phyllanthus emblica) base, cooked with ghee, sesame oil, jaggery or sugar, honey and dozens of herbs and spices such as pippali, cardamom, cinnamon and dashamulaAlso calledChyawanprash, Chyavanaprash

A dark, spiced herbal jam built on amla, Ayurveda's best known daily rasayana for strength and steady energy through the cold months.

Chyavanprash, formula

Chyavanprash looks like a thick, dark fruit jam and tastes like nothing else: sweet, sour, warm with spice, a little bitter at the end. It is made by cooking amla fruit down for hours with ghee, sesame oil, raw sugar and a long list of herbs, then stirring in honey once it cools.

The story says it was first made for the aging sage Chyavana, who took it and felt young again. Whatever you make of the legend, chyavanprash is a true rasayana, a rejuvenating food. In many Indian homes a spoonful in the morning is as ordinary as a cup of tea, especially from fall through early spring.

Because it is a cooked food, not just a powder, it is easy to take and easy to love. Kids often like it better than the adults.

Ayurvedic Properties

RasaTastes
  • Sweet
  • Sour
  • Pungent
  • Bitter
  • Astringent
ViryaHeating or cooling
Slightly heating
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Sweet
AgniEffect on digestion
Gently supports agni

Rich but spiced, it is traditionally said to support digestion in small amounts.

GunaQualities
  • Heavy
  • Oily
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: decreases
  • Pitta: decreases
  • Kapha: decreases, in moderation
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Chyavanprash is generally considered balancing for all three doshas. The amla keeps it friendly for pitta, the warm spices and ghee comfort vata, and kapha types simply keep the amount small because of the sugar and heaviness.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support strength, stamina and steady energy as a daily rasayana.
  • Traditionally used to support healthy lungs and clear breathing through the cold season.
  • Traditionally used to support the body's natural resilience when seasons change.
  • Traditionally used to support healthy digestion and appetite.
  • Traditionally used to support ojas, Ayurveda's idea of deep vitality.

How People Use It

  • FoodThe classic way is about a teaspoon straight from the spoon in the morning, before or with breakfast.
  • MilkA teaspoon stirred into a cup of warm milk is a traditional way to make it easier to digest, especially for vata.
  • WaterIf you avoid dairy, follow your spoonful with a cup of warm water or mild herbal tea.
Try This

Morning Chyavanprash Spoon

A one minute ritual for cold, dark mornings.

  • 1 teaspoon chyavanprash
  • 1 cup warm milk, oat milk or warm water
  1. Before breakfast, take a teaspoon of chyavanprash and let it melt slowly on your tongue. Notice all the tastes as they come and go.
  2. Follow it with a cup of warm milk or warm water, sipped slowly.
  3. If you prefer, stir the chyavanprash right into the warm milk instead.
  4. Keep the jar tightly closed in a cool, dry cupboard and always use a clean, dry spoon.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Many makers advise against chyavanprash during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please check with your doctor or midwife first.
  • Chyavanprash is high in sugar and also contains honey and ghee. Talk with your doctor if you manage blood sugar, are watching your weight, or have been told to limit fats.
  • If you take diabetes medicine, blood thinners or other regular medication, check with your doctor before taking chyavanprash daily.
  • Recipes vary widely between brands, and some Ayurvedic products have been found to contain heavy metals. Buy from a maker that tests its products.
  • Research on chyavanprash in people is limited, and the evidence for its health effects is still thin.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before making it a daily habit, especially if you take any medication.

In Our Shop

Chyavanprash Ayurvedic Herbal Jam

Chyavanprash Ayurvedic Herbal Jam, from $27.00.

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From the Journal

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.