“Keep time! How sour sweet music is when time is broke and no proportion kept! So is it in the music of men’s lives….”

“Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour.”

William Shakespeare.

The taste of sour is composed from earth and fire. It creates heat in the body, and it’s oily and hot. Its positive virtues are that it creates appreciation, understanding, discrimination and comprehension. Its negative traits are criticism, jealousy, rejection, hate, agitation, selfishness and hyperactivity. It is located on the front edges, along the tapered curve of the tongue. It affects the lungs. Its movement is downwards. It enables our digestion and appetite. It stimulates our metabolism.

Recipes which feature a predominantly sour taste.

Lemon Rice

Two cups cooked rice, juice of two lemons (according to taste), one teaspoon mustard seed, fresh or dried curry leaves, half teaspoon of turmeric powder, pinch of asafetida, two whole red chilies, handful of peanuts or cashews, salt to taste, two table spoons oil.

Heat wok, add two tablespoons of oil, add mustard seeds and a pinch of asafetida. Add curry leaves and the two red chilies. Add half teaspoon of turmeric powder. Stir on low flame. Add the nuts. Let it splutter, then add the cooked rice, and the lemon juice. Stir so that everything is mixed. Serve with a fruit chutney. Splendid for school, work or picnics.

Sour fruit chutney

It can be made with any fleshy fruit. Lemon juice, mustard seeds, whole red chilies, curry leaves, salt and sugar.
One cup of cubed pineapple, peach or mango. Blend the fruit with lemon juice, add salt and sugar according to taste. Lastly add tempered mustard seeds, chilies and curry leaves to it.

German Proverb: Handsome apples are sometimes sour.

It is said that we are given the gift of discernment and the taste of sour enables us to discriminate.

Aim Hrim Klim