The King of Herbs

     Last Friday I received two basil plants to complete my herb collection growing in porch pots.  Surprisingly, one was purple, a color of the herb I had never encountered before.  I quickly discovered that it was one of the more than a dozen varieties of the King of Herbs and is a Red Rubin.  So I did a little more investigation and found out quite a bit about this most well known of herbs grown on our planet.

    

     Basil has been around for thousands of years.  It originated in the Middle East and Asia and is also known as St. Joseph's Wort.  It is a low growing plant with tender but large leaves and a member of the mint family.  The name comes to us from the Greek language and is translated as king.  It truly is the king of herbs and is often associated with religion and folklore.  It has been described as a holy herb, especially in the Greek Orthodox Church where it is kept potted near the altar to provide religious healing and is used in the preparation of holy water.  In India it was used in courts of law where citizens would swear their oath upon it.  In Italy it symbolized love and was worn as an adornment in the hair, hoping to attract a true love.  For that reason it was also carried in the pockets of Mexicans.
     Basil prefers to grow in warm weather with lots of sun and some varieties can reach a height of 3 feet.  It matures in 85 days and produces a brilliant white blossom which is also edible.  Some of the varieties have the name of the flavor they impart, like cinnamon, lemon, anise and sweet.  Beside the familiar green basil there are different colored plants with names like Red Rubin, Dark Opal, Osmin, Purple Thai and Asian.  While the majority of basil plants are grown for their use in cooking, some are strictly ornamental and other are cultivated for their medicinal value.
     Basil is a mildly sedative herb that lowers fever, relaxes spasms, improves digestion, combats colds and flu, counteracts migraines and insomnia, anxiety and exhaustion.  It is also a preventative aid against parasites and bacteria.  Of the essential oils contained in basil, one of the most important is eugenol which reduces inflammation within the body.  It contains high levels of beta-carotene, Vitamin A and lutein which are all valuable antioxidants and reduce the effects of aging.
     And you thought it was only good as a flavoring for tomato sauce!