Basil is used in cooking. It is made into pesto, used in dressings for meat and main dishes, added to sauces and salads and used for canning vegetables for the winter.
Basil tea is made only in the East, from where this tradition comes to us. And, it must be said that a slightly spicy basil drink provides our body with invaluable help.
What are the benefits of basil tea
Basil tea contains valuable plant ingredients, as well as the plant itself. Contains vitamins: A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, B12, C, E, PP, K, carotene, as well as tannins, mono- and disaccharides, rutin, saponin, choline, saturated fatty acids, essential oils, proteins, dietary fibers, phytoncides, glycosides. The list of useful substances is supplemented by minerals: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, selenium, copper.
The many vitamins in this tea help maintain the vitamin balance in the body. Phytoncides with tannins stimulate the intestines and refresh the oral cavity. Basil essential oil is the strongest ingredient of the green herb. It has anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, antispasmodic and antioxidant properties.
Thanks to its composition, basil tea is able to:
- lower body temperature (this is very important in the heat against overheating);
- to relieve headaches, helps to deal with intestinal disorders (this is also important in summer);
- strengthen the immune system;
- to relieve the condition of the musculoskeletal system;
- to speed up the metabolism in the body;
- to increase mental activity and elasticity of blood vessels.
Basil tea improves the condition of the nervous system and blood circulation, removes excess cholesterol, cleans blood vessels, relieves cough and has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. Tea even has an anti-cancer effect (kills free radicals) and serves as a natural antibiotic (fights viruses and bacteria). With such tea, the processes of digestion and assimilation of food are significantly improved, there is accelerated fat burning, which is important for weight loss.
Preparing and drying basil for tea
About 70 varieties of basil with green and purple leaves, with different aromas, are grown today. Their chemical composition is approximately the same, but it is still better to use the purple variety for tea, it is considered more healthy, especially for women's health and, in particular, for the female hormonal sphere. Yes, the color, taste, and aroma of the drink from purple leaves are more saturated.
Basil leaf tea is made from fresh and dried basil leaves. It is recommended to get fresh bunches of basil from a friend who grows them in their garden, so they will definitely not contain nitrates and other poisons. Such a fresh bouquet can be placed in water, covered with a plastic bag and placed in the refrigerator. Change the water every day and brew tea for a week. Before making tea, the leaves should be cut and washed under running water.
To prepare basil for the winter, you can hang bundles of twigs under the roof or on the balcony (in the shade). Then grind or grate the dried twigs. It is best to store basil in linen bags according to our grandmothers' method or in glass jars. If it is not possible to hang bunches, you can spread them in a thin layer on a newspaper on a table or cabinet, again in the shade and preferably in the air. Properly dried, basil retains all its beneficial properties.
Basil tea recipes
Regular consumption of tea with basil guarantees long-term preservation of beauty and youth. In this regard, the antioxidants and essential oils of the tea work hard. The calorie content of such a drink is low, only 25 kcal per 100 g, if no sweeteners are added there (honey, sugar, pieces of sweet fruit). For weight loss, it is better to add other medicinal herbs to basil leaves.
Classic basil tea recipe
This recipe is considered basic and includes boiling water and basil leaves. For 1 liter of boiling water, you need 50 grams of basil leaves for tea. If the leaves are fresh, they should be pre-washed. Then put in a teapot, fill the teapot with boiling water and let the drink stand for 20 minutes.
The tea turns out to be dark blue in color, it perfectly invigorates and improves the general condition of a person, gives a surge of vitality, is useful for beriberi, digestive disorders and insomnia. This basil tea is recommended for depression and disorders of the nervous system. During the summer heat, it will help you quench your thirst, and during colds, such hot tea will warm you and save you from a viral infection.
Basil tea with herbs
There are no fixed proportions. You can add mint leaves and lemon balm with basil leaves in the kettle. Pour boiling water and let it stand covered for 15-20 minutes. Here you can also add some cumin seeds to add a special taste, flavor the drink with natural honey.
This herbal tea is useful for the functioning of the internal organs, removes toxins from the body, helps fight fatigue and calms the nervous system. It is recommended to drink it in the evening.
Another version of the herbal tea with basil includes, in addition to basil leaves, raspberry, blackcurrant and mint leaves - approximately equal parts of 20 grams each. In this case, use 1 liter of water. Pour boiling water over all the leaves, also soak them for 20 minutes.
Tea with basil and lemon
For 2 portions of the drink, use 350 ml of water, 2 slices of lemon and 5-6 sprigs of basil. Under the influence of lemon juice, the purple tea instantly turns bright pink. In the absence of lemon for a beautiful color, you can add citric acid to the tea on the tip of the knife. You can add honey to the glass before drinking.
Black or green tea with basil
You can create an original taste of basil using 5-6 basil leaves by adding them to ready black or green tea. You only need to steep for 10 minutes, add cane or brown sugar for sweetness.
Basil tea with ginger and cinnamon
This tea is used for colds at the very beginning. Both ginger and cinnamon are known for their warming properties. And in the company of basil, they acquire antibacterial properties and help to quickly deal with a cold. This drink is also used to lose weight and to maintain health in the period of viral infections.
Let the water boil, add a slice of ginger and half a cinnamon stick to it. Boil covered for 2-3 minutes, then add the basil leaves and turn off the heat. Cool to 60°C, add honey and lemon. The medicinal tea is ready. There is no strict recipe here, everything is done within reasonable amounts.
More benefits and uses of basil tea
An excellent preventive for colds is rosehip tea prepared in the evening in a thermos. And if you add basil leaves and honey to it, you will get an aromatic healing drink, invigorating and saturated with vitamins.
Basil goes well with milk, cream, fruit. All of these can be used in tea compositions for enjoyment and health promotion.
Contraindications for using basil tea
Most of the restrictions are due to the huge amount of essential oils in basil. Therefore, allergy sufferers, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children should be more cautious. In general, it is better to refuse basil tea to avoid an allergic reaction.
Basil is contraindicated in tea recipes for diabetics and hypotensive people, people with poor blood clotting. And the energizing effect of basil tea can be dangerous for those who have had a heart attack or stroke, for those who suffer from chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Be aware of the potential danger of this plant. The fact is that basil can accumulate mercury in its leaves and stems. That is why it is important to know the origin of herbs.
If there are no contraindications, it is better to start drinking basil tea in minimal portions. If you have health problems, it is better to consult your doctor. Having too much of it is also dangerous.
