Have you ever been in the presence of someone who radiated health and happiness? Whose eyes, skin, hair, and smile made you not only want to be around them, but also want to know what their secret to such beauty was? There IS a secret to this state of being—but it’s not a spa treatment, beauty product, or even a vitamin or superfood. It’s called ojas, which is a Sanskrit term used in Ayurveda to describe this vital quality of body, mind, and spirit.

Ojas Milk is a classic Ayurvedic recipe that helps to build and restore ojas with ingredients that are especially sattvic, or harmonious and life-giving, and rasayana, or rejuvenating, to the entire mind-body network. Made of warmed milk, almonds, dates, and a special combination of herbs and spices, Ojas Milk feels like a hug inside your body. But, you can cultivate ojas in other ways too—like these Ojas Bites. These pop-able, portable, and vibrant snacks deliver all the same nutrition and energy as the drink, but in a more convenient (and cooling!) package. Enjoy a bite or two between lunch and dinner, or after dinner as a way to support restful sleep. You can find a recipe for traditional Ojas Milk, and many more plant-based herbal and Ayurvedic recipes, in Root & Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women’s Wellness.

Prep time: Overnight + 5 minutes
Freeze time: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS 
½ cup chopped and pitted Medjool dates, soaked in boiling water overnight (liquid reserved)
¼ cup almond meal
¼ cup rolled oats
¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2 tablespoons Seed + Mill Organic Tahini
1 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ashwagandha

STEPS
1. Combine all the ingredients except the liquid from the soaked dates in the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender. Blitz until well combined, adding the soaking liquid as needed to form a sticky but dense consistency. 
2. Use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop or 2 spoons and your hands to shape the dough into balls. (If using your hands, you might wear gloves to avoid staining your hands with the turmeric!)
3. Place the bites on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and chill in the freezer for 1 hour or until firm. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Makes: 15 bites.