&!#@ Basil!        

Ocimum basilicum

Apparently the early Roman & Greek physicians believed to grow a good crop of basil, you had to shout and curse as you sowed the seeds!¹ While I think it might be fun to try out their philosophy, my neighbors might not appreciate it as much! No one wants a ticket for public vulgarity, do they?  The ancient people had a lot of interesting ideas and beliefs about day to day living and growing plants is apparently no exception.

In Italy basil has been and is still considered a sign of love!

 A pot of basil on a young lady’s balcony outside her room is a sign she’s ready to receive her suitor. However nowadays, that is not a sure sign since many people grow basil in pots on balconies and windowsills!  Another practice was for the young man to give a young lady a sprig of basil in the hope that the young lady would return his affection and never leave!  I think now ladies would prefer a man who cooks with basil. A man like that would be quite a catch!

One theory about the origin herb’s name is a derivative from basileus, Greek for king. In India basil is worshipped more highly than kings. It is a sacred herb dedicated to Vishnu & Krishna and laid upon the chest of the dead to protect from evil in the next world and to give them entrance to paradise (Oh! If it were only that easy!)

Basil seeds

As a medicinal, it is used for digestive complaints. Used instead of an after dinner mint as a tea, it helps aid in digestion and expel gas. It can be used for vomiting, cramps and constipation. A teaspoon of dried basil in a cup of boiled water is supposed to be effective. I am not a physician or a naturopath so I am relating only what I have researched. As always, check with your physician or naturopath prior to using any medicinal herb. Using the seeds in a poultice externally has shown antibacterial properties.

basil mint hair oil

It is used in shampoos, hair color and rinses, perfumes and herbal bath preparations. You can even make your own herbal bath perfume by mixing herbs that you like together to make a scent you like and add it to the water. Then climb in, and depending on the mixture, relax or get invigorated!

Basil works well in Italian, African, Mediterranean, Thai, Greek and of course Indian cuisine to name just a few. It has a bit of a peppery taste which intensifies as it cooks. Fresh, it can be added to salads, made into a pesto or tossed into a veggie packet and grilled until the veggies are done (about 20 minutes or so in a foil packet on a grill).  If it is to be frozen it should be made into a paste or stored in oil or vinegar. If you are freezing a pesto sauce, leave out the garlic until you are actually going to cook it as it can turn bitter/rancid tasting after a few months in the freezer. Try drying it to savor it during the winter months when you may not have your plant to pluck from.

Basil flowers (can be pink as well)

Basil can be easy to grow. Good light, a soil that drains well but not fast and has the addition of compost to the mix, whether potted or in ground. By pruning (or pinching off) leaves, your plant should become bushy. It is recommended to cut back the main stem prior to the plant flowering for the first. If you aren’t using it very often, trim it back a bit every 2 weeks or so. This helps keep it from getting too woody and helps maintain a nice bushy shape. Try to harvest before the flowers open, this will give you a better flavor. The unopened flowers can be used as a garnish or addition to a salad as well.

Purple Ruffles basil

There are a variety of types of basil, some with flavors other than straight basil. There is lemon, anise, cinnamon even a camphor flavored basil.  The one called “Holy Basil” is actually more ornamental rather than culinary so I would avoid that one except as a decorative element.  I have heard that the “Purple Ruffles” one is good for flavoring vinegar, but haven’t tried it myself (yet!). If you are adventurous try growing a few and taste testing your own. I can guarantee that even if you don’t like them, they are a beautiful addition to any garden as an ornamental. I love having fragrant plants in my garden, whether they are “useful” or not. I am constantly touching leaves, smelling them and even sometimes tasting them just because I can. And yes, I do know what poison oak and ivy look like so I am safe!

Enjoy your basil be it in a pasta, perfume, tea or hair rinse!!

Happy gardening!

Mary

¹Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs