Basil Tea

[bluelacedredhead]

Chad mentioned in another post that I'm invited for basil tea next time we swing by that way.
I've used basil for all the usual usages: pesto, tomato & basil salad, peanut butter & red basil jelly sandwiches...but never tea??

Are we talking green basil for this or purple??
And what ratio of dried leaves (or fresh???) to a teapot of boiling water?

:confused:

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

What I like to use is the African blue...but i have used:
Cinnamon
Lemon,
Licorice,
Lime,
etc.

African blue is sterile so it does not seed. You have to keep it alive through cuttings. I gave Randall some of it and Johno. It is called the "Queen of Basil's"

But there is no science on the tea. For a good gallon or gallon and a half sized pitcher use a couple of handfuls of leaves and throw them in after you bruise em up a bit. Pour boiling hot water over them (just a couple of inches above the leaf line) and let it steep for about 15 minutes. Add the rest of the water (honey if you want.) and walla! It is excellent when it is a really hot day coming in from the garden! It is a summer time treat in my house.

I think it is good for gardeners to think outside the box. Italian food is not the only use for Basil. Hope you enjoy it!

Course like I said...you gotta get the African Blue. I can send cuttings in the spring if anyone is interested. (Assuming that mine live through the winter in the green house!)

Later!

Chad

[GreenZone]

I plan to overwinter mine in the greenhouse too. It (the greenhouse, that is) was quite reliable last winter. It has to be--it's also my wellhouse!

Randel

[johno]

Mine will be living in my (south-facing) kitchen bay in a 2' x 5' window for the winter, or until my garden shed/greenhouse is built (hopefully before the end of winter!) I haven't made tea yet, but the African Blue Basil Tastes unique fresh. I really like it. It has a traditional basil flavor, but it is somehow spicier, maybe reminiscent of cloves? Subtle yet exciting...

[bluelacedredhead]

Funny you should mention this. I've been asking around for months about camphor basil as I had a plant that was given to me and never progressed beyond it's initial pot size?
And here I go asking about basil tea and what does it turn out to be? But a cross between camphor basil and dark opal (my fave for jellies)....
Too late this year, but yes, I can buy it "locally" (only a short Sunday drive..can even visit my Dad while enroute)...
Here's the link just so ya know..
http://www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi

Thanks :)

[bluelacedredhead]

Okay, this should be better..
http://www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi?product=X1280&cart_id=6382198.29914

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Yep...she's a beauty!

Hope you like her as much as I do! Oh...she gets big!!!

Chad

[Joan]

Gee does it taste strong like basil or is it a gentle refreshing taste?

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

When it is a tea it is very smooth and very refreshing. Especially after a hot summer day in the garden.

This would have been one of the plants that I would have propogated for the spring cutting trade. But no one was interested so....oh well.....

Chad

[Helen Wong-Joe]

This is the first time I heard that one can brew tea with basil. Where have I been???? Wow!

[bluelacedredhead]

Library night tonight...This time, I picked up a book entitled The Top 100 Herbal Remedies, by Anne McIntyre.
Ms. McIntyre says that Basil can be used to treat a number of ailments, including
nervous irritability
poor concentration
poor memory
anxiety
depression
vomiting
fever
headache
coughs
asthma
insomnia
flatulence

and
Head Lice?
I can see Basil Tea being used internally for the other ailments. But has anyone knowledge of how to treat head lice with basil leaves??

[stonysoil]

hi bluelaced peanut butter and red basil sandwiches sounds awesome..i know basal is an aprhrodisiac.. with its intoxicating aromas.. i think the tea wopuld serve that purpose as well

[Joan]

Gee it does everything but what I need the most: help you shed pounds!
Thanks for doing homework on it, herbs are truly amazing aren't they.

[mrtomatoexpres]

now i have to try the basil tea now that i think of it :confused: my great grandma use to give me basil tea for my asthma and the water from the pasta she boiled :)

[johno]

I'm feeling off today, so I made some basil tea this evening. Curious to see if it works...

[bluelacedredhead]

Johno, I wondered why you were home and posting up a storm today. Not that I mind! Things have been a bit slow here lately..Much more fun this way..

And yes, I hope the tea does the trick..I hate to hear that my friends are sick...

[johno]

I drank several cups, and I don't feel any different... maybe that's good?

[Joan]

maybe it needs a drop of something else to liven it up a bit! (ooooh I'm just kidding)

[johno]

Well, it tastes so good it is well worth drinking anyway...

[Heirloom Seed Shop]

Hey Johno, here's sending some "Feel Better Soon" to you. Sharon

[johno]

Thanks, Sharon! Hope everything's going well on your end, too!

[Lillian Osborne]

Gee it does everything but what I need the most: help you shed pounds!
Thanks for doing homework on it, herbs are truly amazing aren't they.

Hi Joan,

Check out Holy Basil for this...it is an adaptogenic herb, helps regulate stress, which can be a big help to those wishing to lose weight. Not bad for those of us seeking a bit of tranquility in our lives either.

[louanne]

I got some of the african blue from a friend....
I will try basil tea..it sounds refreshing....but so does a bath in it LOL...I love to pinch basil in the summer ha....

also for those who cook and bake alot....
fresh basil in home made noodles is awesome...
some herbs also lend them selves very very well to angel food cake
biscuits and breads and oh my fresh foccia....
infused oils....
cheesy puffs...
rice cakes...
I love IT....

[strong eagle]

Science Digest magazine had an article some years ago on the research they were doing on Holy Basil/Tulsi Basil. Seems there is a mild narcotic in it that is Olfactory triggered. Also that it biulds up the immune system very well. I have two or three types of the Holy basil that reseeds itself all over my gardens each year. I dry a lot of it for teas as it is about 4 times as "calmative" as Chamomile wonderful for miserable winter days when a person can't get out doors, just sit, read a book and let old man winter roll on by! Strong.

[louanne]

Strong...ifyour at the baker creek DO...april first...can I buy some of the seeds of ya...I would love to put it in my herb area...specially if it comes up on its own....
I have never been able to get basil through the winter....

[bluelacedredhead]

Louanne, I read all the info on African Blue Basil this past year. I sooo wanted to buy a plant, but I've not seen any in these parts yet..It's a 3 hour drive to the greenhouse that propagates it in this area..

I'm hoping that the local greenhouse operators have the forethought to grow some..they don't open for another month...but since I drive past their place on my way to the store, it makes sense to wait instead of making a long distance run just for one type of basil..

[louanne]

yeah I justmade a new friend at work this last year...who is a botanist...and grows well everything that I dont..shes more into flowers and things that stay in a hot house..and water lilys...
I visited her farm a month or so ago and she gave me some stuff..including the african basil....I almost killed it before I got the hot house up....but its doing well now....
She just asked me about attening the spring fest at BC...so I will tell her of the intrest in the basil.....maybe she has more

[louanne]

Picked up some lime basil seeds while in springfield today....
sounds yummy to me....
anyone ever tried it?

[Joan]

Thank you Lillian Osborne!