Ayurveda balances meals not by counting calories or measuring grams of fat but rather by including the six tastes in different proportions. Meals should contain all six tastes namely sweet, sour, salty, pungent (spicy), bitter and astringent. I’ve created a list of common foods with their main tastes to help you with your meal planning.
| Food or Herb | Predominant Taste
|
| Aduki beans | Astringent |
| Almonds | Sweet |
| Aloe Vera | Bitter |
| Apples (green) | Sour |
| Apples (red) | Sweet |
| Apricots | Sweet |
| Artichokes | Astringent |
| Asafoetida (Hing) | Pungent |
| Asparagus | Bitter |
| Aubergines | Bitter |
| Avocado | Sweet |
| Bananas (ripe) | Sweet |
| Bananas (under ripe) | Astringent |
| Basil | Pungent |
| Bay leaves | Pungent |
| Beansprouts | Astringent |
| Beef | Sweet |
| Beetroot | Sweet |
| Bell peppers | Sweet |
| Black beans | Astringent |
| Black eyed peas | Astringent |
| Black pepper | Pungent |
| Black tea | Bitter |
| Blackberries | Sweet, sour |
| Blueberries | Sweet |
| Blue cheese | Sour |
| Brazil nuts | Sweet |
| Breads (wheat-based) | Sweet |
| Broad beans | Astringent |
| Brussel sprouts | Astringent |
| Buckwheat | Astringent |
| Burdock | Bitter |
| Butter | Sweet, Astringent |
| Butternut Squash | Sweet |
| Cabbage | Astringent, Sweet |
| Caraway Seeds | Pungent |
| Cardamom | Sweet, Pungent |
| Carrots (cooked) | Sweet |
| Carrots (raw) | Astringent |
| Cashews | Sweet |
| Cauliflower | Astringent |
| Cayenne | Pungent |
| Celery | Salty, Astringent, Sweet |
| Celery salt, Celery seeds | Salty |
| Chamomile tea | Bitter |
| Chard | Astringent |
| Cherries | Sweet or Sour |
| Cheese | Sour |
| Chicken | Sweet |
| Chickpeas | Astringent |
| Chicory | Bitter |
| Chillis | Pungent |
| Cinnamon | Sweet, Astringent |
| Cloves | Pungent |
| Coconut, Coconut oil | Sweet |
| Coffee | Bitter |
| Collard Greens | Bitter |
| Coriander | Bitter |
| Coriander seeds | Salty |
| Corn | Sweet |
| Courgettes | Bitter |
| Cranberries | Astringent |
| Cream | Sweet, Astringent |
| Cucumbers | Sweet |
| Cumin | Bitter, Pungent, Salty |
| Dal | Astringent |
| Dandelion | Bitter |
| Dark Chocolate | Bitter |
| Dates | Sweet |
| Dill | Salty, Pungent |
| Eggs | Sweet, Astringent |
| Fennel | Astringent, Sweet |
| Fenugreek | Astringent, Bitter |
| Feta cheese | Salty, Sour |
| Figs | Sweet |
| Fish (freshwater) | Sweet |
| Fish (saltwater) | Sweet, Salty |
| Fish (smoked) | Sweet, Salty |
| Flaxseeds | Sweet |
| Garlic | Pungent |
| Ghee | Sweet |
| Ginger | Pungent |
| Grapefruit | Sour |
| Grapes | Sweet |
| Green beans | Astringent |
| Honey | Sweet, Astringent |
| Horseradish | Pugent |
| Kale | Bitter |
| Kefir | Sour |
| Kidney Beans | Astringent |
| Kiwi Fruit | Sour |
| Lamb | Sweet |
| Leeks | Pungent |
| Lemons | Sour |
| Lentils | Astringent |
| Liquorice | Sweet |
| Mangoes | Sweet |
| Maple Syrup | Sweet |
| Melons | Sweet |
| Milk (dairy) | Sweet |
| Milk (plant based) | Refer to relevant plant-based ingredient |
| Mint | Sweet |
| Mung beans | Astringent |
| Mushrooms | Sweet |
| Mustard greens | Bitter, Pungent |
| Mustard seeds | Pungent |
| Nectarines | Sweet, sour |
| Nutmeg | Sweet, Pungent, Astringent |
| Oats | Sweet |
| Olives | Salty, sweet |
| Olive oil | Sweet |
| Onions | Pungent |
| Oranges | Sour, Sweet |
| Oregano | Pungent |
| Parsnips | Sweet |
| Pasta (wheat based) | Sweet |
| Peaches | Sweet |
| Peanuts | Astringent |
| Pears | Astringent |
| Peas | Sweet, Astringent |
| Pecans | Sweet |
| Pineapple | Sour |
| Pinto beans | Astringent |
| Pistachio | Sweet |
| Plums | Sweet |
| Pomegranate | Astringent |
| Pork | |
| Potatoes | Astringent |
| Prunes | Sweet |
| Pumpkin Seeds | Sweet |
| Pumpkins | Sweet |
| Quinoa | Astringent |
| Radicchio | Bitter |
| Radish | Pungent |
| Rapeseed oil | Sweet |
| Raspberries | Sweet, Sour |
| Rice | Sweet |
| Rocket | Pungent |
| Rose | Astringent |
| Rosemary | Bitter, Pungent |
| Rye | Sweet |
| Saffron | Bitter |
| Sage | Pungent |
| Salt (all types) | Salty |
| Samphire | Salty |
| Sesame seeds | Sweet |
| Shallots | Pungent |
| Shellfish | Salty |
| Spelt | Sweet |
| Spinach | Bitter, Astringent, Pungent, Sour |
| Split peas | Astringent |
| Spring greens | Bitter |
| Spring onions | Pungent |
| Star Anise | Pungent |
| Strawberries | Sweet, Sour |
| Sunflower seeds | Sweet |
| Sweet potatoes | Sweet |
| Swiss chard | Bitter |
| Thyme | Pungent |
| Tomatoes | Sour |
| Turkey | Sweet |
| Turmeric | Astringent |
| Vanilla | Sweet |
| Walnuts | Sweet |
| Watercress | Pungent |
| Winter greens | Bitter |
| Yoghurt | Sour |