We have some cold air moving into Oklahoma so it was a good time to get out and harvest the rest of our holy basil plants before the frost. Holy basil is a very easy to grow perennial herb but is not tolerant to freezing temperatures. We have enjoyed having fresh tea all summer as these plants just love to grow!
Holy basil or tulsi is a powerful Ayurvedic herb. It is revered by Hindus and sometimes referred to as "the elixir of life". It has compounds known as adaptogens which can help the body adjust to stress. It also has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Tulsi also helps with headaches, respiratory issues, memory loss, and blood sugar regulation. It also tastes amazing in a tea!
To harvest the plants, I used a knife and wheelbarrow to collect them. Cutting the plants near the base where the woody branches appear seemed to work best. I have been taking cuttings here and there but have not collected this much at once. It wasn't long before the wheelbarrow was overflowing. Thankfully I was able to get it all in one load.
Once everything was collected, I filled a tote with some water to give the basil a quick wash before going on the drying racks. This will help to get out any bugs or excessive dirt from the mix. Some people might double or even triple rinse them but I'm not overly concerned as they will be dried and used for tea.
Earlier this year I made some drying screens out of 2x2's, 1/4" hardware cloth, and some screws and washers. These can also be used for sifting potting soil or covering the stock tanks I keep the chicks in. You will just want to spread everything out at an elevated position where the water can drip off. They're in the garage right now, but it will be really cold tonight so we'll be bringing them in tonight.
