Holy Basil (also known as Tulsi, or Ocimum sanctum) is a popular aromatic plant that is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and is commonly used in Ayurveda. This loose leaf organic Krishna Tulsi can be used to make a delicious caffeine free, organic herbal tea. The holy basil leaf, flowers and twigs create an infusion that is at once cooling in the mouth and wonderfully spicy. Think of it as a blend of flavors including mint, lemons, basil, chamomile, cardamom, rosemary, and nutmeg all fused into an aromatic incense-like concoction. Holy Basil!
Ingredients: organic Indian holy basil (tulsi)
Native to the Indian subcontinent, Holy Basil or Tulsi has been cultivated for centuries in India. Part of the Lamiaceae family and known as the “queen of herbs,” it grows best in regions with rich sandy loam soils and good drainage. It is ready for harvest three months after planting and then again every 70-75 days thereafter. In India, it is harvested at the full bloom stage on sunny days to obtain the best yield and oil content.
At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend herbal and rooibos teas to be steeped for 5 to 7 minutes in water heated to a full rolling boil. For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible, and avoid overboiling. If you want a stronger brew, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!
Looking for more info? Check out our How-To Guides and Eco-Brewing Tips!
"Holy Basil is both warming and cooling! At first sip your mouth and throat are coated in warmth and then after you swallow your mouth is all a-tingle! Lovely."
"Holy Basil is delicious, but a bit hard to describe. I view it as a cross between licorice, chamomile and mint, with some of the same stress relieving benefits of chamomile."
I really appreciate that Arbor lets you buy samples of all their teas (except for the matchas) because it's given me an opportunity to try teas I've never had before. Holy Basil Tulsi has the brightness of basil, with lemony and minty notes. I'm not sure I'd drink it straight, but I think it would be a wonderful ingredient for a delicious tea blend.
This tea was pretty good for its price. I’ve had better holy basil tea before that was a little more vibrantly green in color, but for the price this is a good tea. I love the peppery-mint notes when you brew it strong, and it’s certainly a gently medicinal tea.
I'd never tried Tulsi before even though I saw it around a lot. I would call the flavor "spicy" but not in a hot -sauce hot way. It's a gentle spicy and a nice flavor. I definitely recommend giving it a shot.
I am absolutely in love with the flavor of tulsi, the only question i have is... Is this the Krishna Tulsi? it tastes very minty/peppery and clove-like which i LOVE.... It just is not specified in the description...I would really like to know what variety it is.. Overall, I am in Love
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the flavor of this healthy tea. I actually crave it as a mid-day refresher. I've read that it's a strong natural antihistamine and feel that it helps clear stuffiness and congestion. I'll be ordering this one for a long time!