Cumin, coriander and fennel tea (aka CCF tea) has long been revered as an Ayurvedic method to improve digestion.
It calms and soothes inflammation, helps with protein digestion and assimilation, and it can also train your pancreas to produce more of its own enzymes!
This tea is GREAT not only for digestion but also for weight loss, mental clarity, and detoxification.
I normally make it hot but also included an iced variety in this segment as well.
These 3 seeds are incredibly therapeutic for you!
Cumin Seeds
Cumin is well known for its positive effects on digestive health and its ability to cleanse and detoxify the body.
Benefits include:
- Supports the pancreas, helps digest protein
- Reduces gas, indigestion and cramps
- May help absorb minerals from the intestines to prevent deficiency
- Eliminates toxins and congestion from body (and mind)
Coriander Seeds
This is the seed of the cilantro leaf. It is small and round. This is a very balancing seed that cools and calms the GI tract.
Benefits include:
- Reduces heat or acid in the stomach
- Decreases congestion
- Calms the digestive system
- Helps alleviate joint pain
- Improves skin irritation or rashes
Fennel Seeds
This seed is a cousin to Anise and Dill and is cylindrical in shape. Fennel seed is often chewed at the end of an Indian meal to support digestion. Growing up in a 100% Italian family, we used to eat fresh fennel in between courses during big Sunday dinners to cleanse our palate and support the digestive process.
Benefits include:
- Relieves bloating, gas, and cramping
- Calms the mind and improves mental clarity
- Supports healthy menstrual flow
Make it fresh daily to support digestion and detoxification. Here’s the recipe!
1/4 teaspoon whole coriander seeds
1/4 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
1/4teaspoon whole fennel seeds
1 1/2 cups room temperature water
Raw honey to taste
1. Grind together coriander, cumin and fennel (CCF) seeds in a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder.
2. Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil without covering the saucepan. Add the ground CCF mixture. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 3-4 minutes to infuse flavors and nutritive properties.
3. Strain and let it cool completely before adding raw honey.
Option to pour over ice and add the juice of half a lime.
Yields: 1 cup.
What do you think? Are you game to try it? Let me know in the comments below!
no ice
Christa and our team normally make it hot but also included in this episode is an iced variety.
yes but……….cold drinks kill the digestive fire that you are trying to enkindle. Sipping something that cold, if you must, is best taken at midday, when the ‘agni’, or digestive fire is strongest. Ayurvedic wisdom encourages us to drink warm or room temperature fluids as a rule.
Yes where do I get the seeds
I have been making this for the past few weeks and adding tumeric to the blend. I have a co worker hooked now as well. I have been drinking it hot from a thermos throughout the day and have even lost weight. Both of us are ‘regular” daily which was a big issue in the past. We used to joke we had “dairy babies” as we looked pregnant some days.
I just did a big batch in my processor which consisted of 1 cup fennel seeds, 1/2 cup cumin and 1/2 cup coriander seeds and about 2 tablespoons of tumeric powder. Crushed it (not super fine though) and put in container and I use a cereal spoonful in an empty tea bag and it lasts all day. I heat the water, put the tea bag in my 24 oz Tervis Tumbler and sip from breakfast through lunch, then using the same tea bag, refill it after lunch, and finish by 4:30. I’ve lost 6 pounds in 3 weeks and that was not my original intention but definitely a pleasant “side effect”
I make a large batch in the morning and I drink it throughout the day. I bring it to work in a thermos and have it readily available all day long.
Can women drink this tea when they are pregnant?
According to Ayurveda, CCF tea is beneficial when taken warm or even hot but not cold. Cold tea will stoke your “agni” digestive fire, so for maximum benefits its preferred in warm or hot state.
Who has 3-4 hours a day to do this….”make it fresh daily “. Alternative solutions to that…… make a large batch and refrigerate???
It takes 3-4 minutes to make. Not hours. ?
is it ok for lazy people to buy the pre-made blend from Joyful Belly?
I just had a food sensitivity test done and three foods came back highly reactive. Cumin, Clams and Hops. I have SIBO and was looking forward to making this tea. Is there something I can use instead of Cumin?
make it without the cumin. You will still get the benefits of the other spices. Fennel seed itself is very beneficial.
I just made this tea tonight and drank it hot. I even made an extra cup for my Mom. It is good and soothing, I liked it. It immediately helped with my digestion discomfort.
how often do you drink this? can you drink it all day long? Also, your Tumeric Lemonade is wonderful! How much of that can you drink?
Christa, I made the tea and love it! I just sweeten with a little stevia but it doesn’t need much. I have been making it everyday and I also make your Tumeric Ginger Lemonade at least every other day. The wonderful thing about this one is that if I don’t have fresh ginger and lemons I can still make it. Thank you for all of your enthusiastic recipes and ideas. I’m looking forward to GutThrive 2.0!!
I love fennel. I always buy fennel flavored toothpaste… 😉
I will give this a try. When I get anxious or stressed, I get stomach cramps. I liked that this was calming to the mind, so maybe this drink will calm mind and stomach. How great would that be.
When is the best time to drink the tea? Before, after or during a meal?
Can you drink this tea hot? Directions say to cool completely, Also, how many times per day and why must you start with room temp water when you’re heatinh it anyway? I’m a bit confused
Delish! I’m partial to a touch more fennel.
Is this safe in pregnancy?
I will definitely give this a try!
So…what did you think about the tea that this post was about?
I just made some and actually love the taste! It makes me feel clean on the inside!
Hello Christa, I am definetly going to try this. I had a very bad, long-lasting virus over the winter and it has caused IBS so this is good timing to try this drink. Christa, I wanted to ask you, I now feel ‘wierd’ just before having to do a b.m. Sort of light-headed but once I go, the ‘off, sort of dizzy feeling goes away. Is this one of the side effects of IBS? Thank you!
Angelica
Hey Angelica, Yes your light-headedness is due to the IBS. My husband suffers from this as well with his IBS and once the flare is done it goes away. It’s a little frightening though when it’s going on. You now need to figure out what is causing the IBS and your flares will go away. My husbands is sugar (in a natural state or not). Good luck!
Could I add collagen powder to this or would that diminish the effectiveness of the seeds?