Jess, the companion planting benefits of basil are more than tradition! Basil has a root exudate called Rosmarinic acid (RA). RA suppresses phytopthora, a common cause of root and crown rots, in the soil of their intertwined root systems. Traditionally, basil is thought to improve both the color and the flavor of tomatoes. The more we learn about root exudates and the amazing communication between plants, microbes, and soil chemistry, the more we will know the science behind what generations of farmers before us knew from observation. RA also has human and livestock health benefits as an antioxidant. It is a benefit to chickens and is used in their feed when we add dried or fresh herbs to their rations or treats. RA is also found in oregano and rosemary, both known for anti-inflammatory qualities.
Idk what I'm doing wrong but my Basil dies before it goes to seed, maybe too hot? My AC isn't working great it was 85 degrees inside... How do we propagate cuttings for outside? Best if it reseeds 🌻 Need help all my grown or store bought herbs dies quick
I went to a conference once where they added rosemary to the water along with peppermint leaves. It was sooo good. I started using different herbs after that. I mixed peppermint, rosemary, and basil in room temperature water and let it steep. It was so good. No sweetners needed.
OH MY GOSH!! I cut back a bunch of Thai Basil this morning and was not sure how to use it in cooking because of the anise flavor. I just made tea from it and it is AMAZING!!!! Thank you for sharing this idea with us!
I had accidentally made a basil syrup (water decoction and honey, and i was just doing a stove simmer for it to make my home smell good, but it turned into much more!) and I highly recommend that too! I used dark opal basil and it gave a hint of cinnamon with it! Basil is great!
Yum! I do this with mint, catnip (great sleepy time tea), sage, roselle (the leaves are lemony), rosehips, etc. I also make blends. I've thrown dandelion, nasturtium, and calendula flowers in them. I ice all my tea. Great use of herbs and edible flowers since there's always more than I can use.
@@grams_garden1924 I would start off weaker..you can always go stronger..or if too strong, you can dilute it. Sage tea is delicious with honey and lemon..and very good for you. We drink it alot during cold season. Iced is great too though :)
@@grams_garden1924 Either that or just dilute it with more water or add other herbs, citrus, honey, spices to it. Orange peel, sage, and clove are a good combo.
We grew stevia for the first time this year and never thought to use it to sweeten basil tea...I think we'll try steeping it all together! I've been using our lemon basil in ice water with either strawberries or blueberries and it's delicious!!
I've been making basil tea for a year or two now. Love it! Thai basil tea...sooo delicious. I usually mix it with lemon balm, lavender and tiny bits of sage, oregano & thyme. Just depends on the day and what I feel like. 😊
Love the new addition to the team! Welcome Taylor, I am not a tea drinker but my daughters are. You however have convinced me! Hope to see more of both you and Will. Great job Jessica Sowards, as per the ‘usual’ amazing videos!
I was drawn to growing all sorts of basil varieties this year, and I didn't know what to do with most of the basils other than leave them for our pollinators, so thank you Taylor and Jess! This is so fun and helpful!
I'm the same. My cinnamon basil is growing so fast I can't keep up with it. I was looking at it thus morning and wondering what I was going to do with it. Now I know 😁
I bought a 30 pack of mystery seeds from migardener at the end of last year and got lime basil and licorice basil seeds. They smell wonderful and now I know I can make tea with it.
I ended up dehydrating my lemon basil and regular basil and crushed them up, separately, and put them in a little canning jar so I could spice up my sauces and meals.
This Basil tea looks amazing! I am going to make some today! We have so much basil growing, this will be a good way some of it up. Also thanks for posting a link to the recipe, sometimes I forget to take notes as I am watching. 😀
For one who was as camera shy as she was on the 1st video you did with her...she is amazing! Can't wait to see more videos with/from her. I thinks she needs a channel of her own perhaps soon! I happen to have Cinnamon Basil growing in my window sill in the kitchen. I need to transplant it outside so I can hopefully grow more of it and try some of that tea. I do love tea and sweet tea of course but I use Stevia which is also grown as a plant so I wonder if having a tea garden like a pizza garden would be an awesome addition to anyone's kitchen or "other" garden(s). I think I am going to create that for myself here in Middle GA! I moved finally Jess and its not he homestead I dreamed of because I can't have farm animals here but were not homeless. I too am in Zone 8A. Makes things a bit easier now with all things you plant now on your farm are pretty much things I can plant and do so when you do so. I am still learning, and your the best teacher I have had! I have quite a few chairs around my property here now which is all garden but this place needs edible things growing, the trees and flowers are pretty but I love to eat what I grow! Love ya, be blessed.
You can try making a blueberry crisp with your cinnamon basil plant. I use less sugar than most recipes. And chop the basil a bit in the berries, and julienne some in the crispy top. Give it a try! (I didn't find a plant this year though. ) :-)
@@patchurch1677 Umm thank you for blessings me with this tip and I also don't like to use lots of sugar. I can see making a blueberry iced tear or lemonade with some in it now as well...the possibilities are endless now that I know how to best use my cinnamon basil!
Hey Taylor! Y’all her bug spray is seriously good. She is at the Newberry Farmers Market on Saturday if you are local. Just bought the cleaner this weekend. Can’t wait to try the tea!
@@deanacanfield200 it's awful I have to stay covered up head to toe. Also found two ticks on my early in the morning watering my garden. Be aware, be safe
Do you grow stevia? I really want to try growing it because I’m looking for a natural calorie free sweetener. I’ve been using monk fruit but it’s expensive and I don’t care for the aftertaste.
You just made my whole DAY. I have 7 kinds of basil growing this year. First year for holy basil, cinnamon and lemon basil and I have used the lemon a couple times when cooking so far but I really wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the others. You got me on HUFFIN BASIL years ago 😂 so I have mainly grown it for the pure AROMATIC PLEASURE but this is a WHOLE NEW LEVEL. THANK YOU MAAM BOTH OF YOU AND I DO HOPE YOUR DAY IS SUPER BLESSED🙏🙏🙏 KEEP SHINING LIGHTS 💡💡💡💚🦋
Try a blueberry crisp with cinnamon basil in the berries and a bit in the crisp part, julienned. I think I used 6 or 8 good sized leaves in all. Good luck from western Massachusetts USA.
I saw this this morning and tried it....it's so yummy!!! New summer drink added to our family. And now I have a reason to go find more types of basil to add to my garden 🎉
Lemon Basil tea is probably my favorite. I started steeping it for my boys and me last year so I am trying to grow a lot more. I am also dehydrating some to have over the winter
After this video, my life was truly changed 😁 I went right out and made me some basil tea straight away! It's totally delicious and of course I had to use my beautiful tea cup, who doesn't love a tea party right?😋☕️ Thank you so much! Bon appetite 🌿
I'm excited to see that you can do more with basil then making pesto and other yummy dishes!!! I always cover the jar with a lid to keep the natural oils from escaping into the air,, when I am making a tea
I grew holy basil over 20yrs ago and found that years later would find volunteer plants. Oh, how I wish I would have saved some of the seed. I got it, sweet Annie and elephant garlic from my first herbal class. Good memories! Thanks for sharing this. I’ll be on the lookout for the blue and citrus!
I never grew basil because I didn't know what to do with it. Now I have a reason to grow some basil because I love tea. Hot or cold. It's just so good. Can't wait to try this.
Jess, I love this!! You are so cute in this video❤ My children and I have enjoyed watching yall all these years. My kiddos have grown up with yours, and we are excited about the cooking videos now 😊
Oh man I have SO much blue spiced basil in my garden… now I know what I’m doing with it! I’m going to pick some now!! Btw I LOVE Taylor’s hair and the calmness about her. She’s very relaxing to listen to.
@@RootsandRefugeFarm I just want you guys to know… this tea truly does change your life! Lol I’m drinking a cup now. Oh my goodness. Tastes like Christmas.
Ok…so it’s been a year since this video but I just made some Lime Basil tea with lemon juice. I steeped the leaves and the tea was green, I then poured it over my ice and lemon juice and it turned bubble gum pink! It is delicious and beautifully refreshing! Thanks Jess and Taylor!
I literally purchased Lemon basil, and Holy basil after watching this for the first time! I was able to go out and harvest my lemon Basil now, and it’s currently steeping! Smells heavenly!
I appreciate the info on the basil. I am new to gardening and trying to figure out many things. Including what "going to seed" means and how to prevent it. Lol Much to learn. Thanks for giving us close ups in the garden as you work. 💛 Fun video. Love her curls!
If you haven’t found out yet....many plants send a shoot out the top and then flowers and seeds. Lots of plants you can use the flowers. And then the seeds are ready to harvest when they are drier. Then I put them on a paper towel and let them air dry indoors for a few days when I’m sure they’re completely dry I package them for the next year. This is my first year to do it so hopefully someone else will correct me if I’m wrong. So far it’s working fantastic with marigolds and peppers! It’s like pure magic when they come up💗
Jess, this is so funny! Just this week I started making basil teas. Your timing of the video can only be a God Send!! I planted for the first time this spring, lemon, cinnamon, holy, summertime, And others. Mainly to use as night shade companion and pollinators attractant! But I did a cup of steeped lemon and cinnamon MIXED! Warm before bed time…And whoa…I added no sugar and it was awesome…. SO…I asked my dear wife…hmmm? I wonder how it may taste chilled the next morning as I had some left over From the previous evening! It was amazing…still not adding honey, but trying to minimize sugars and adjust my palate! Well, it’s game on now!!! Likewise, we used the flowers stems, and seed pods. Basils now have an additional purpose, SUMMER TEA! Amazingly my wife was apprehensive at first but now loves it as well. Your volume (gal) process, answered all my future needs on the how too!! Good work! Gods perfect timing! AMEN!!!
This is great and timely! I am have 13 varieties of basil growing and most have already started flowering. I was not planning to use them, except as a companion plant and for their scent and easy to grow in the garden. Now, I will have to try them as teas.
Love this Basil drink. I have harvested Basil at a local biodynamic garden years ago to learn and help the gardener. I loved the plant and its fragrance too. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Ok, watched this today and made a quart of no lemon and a quart with lemon. Oh my goodness delicious!!! Thank you for sharing and will be my new favorite summertime drink!
I also think adding some strawberries in it would taste amazing. I have had some tasty cocktails with strawberry and fresh basil, mint, or rosemary. All have tasted amazing so I bet adding a few strawberries would be a great twist.
Well! This is exciting. Thank you Taylor. I love sowing basil a few times over the season to make sure I have an abundance. The moment there is a space, a few seeds get popped in and watered. I have the kettle on right now and I am heading out to the garden. 😃
Mary's Nest just did a video on making your own vinegar, which I started last month. I just finished it and It was so incredibly easy. She got her ideas from the CZcams channel rain country, who is amazing. She has a recipe for mint and banana skin vinegar that taste like a lemon alternative. She uses it when canning for a lemon juice alternative. Amazing how it tastes. Making vinegar was so easy. You should try it with the kids.
My game changer was making basil strawberry infused water and sun tea and learning to drink them all without sweeteners. I will try basil with rose petals next. Also experimenting with orange, grapefruit and lemon peel which I dry myself. I try to have a 0 waste house so any leftover tea gets hidden in a smoothie for dinner - the beauty and blessings of the summer garden. Now onto teas for all the seasons...
I grew holy basil last year and let it go to seed and I was disappointed that none came up this year. I noticed a "weed" growing on the weed fabric but let it go because life got busy. I noticed the plant had gotten big and had flowers on it so I left it. John Brown if that wasn't a beautiful Holy basil plant right there growing on top of my plain black weed fabric. Needless to say, it gets to stay there in all her glory!
I have made basil shaved ice, it's delicious. Basically make a sugar syrup and steep the basil in it, freeze until slushy, scrape with a spoon and let freeze til slushy again, do it several times until you get that shaved ice quality. It's sweet and delicious, I had fun serving it because everyone recognized the flavor but couldn't place it.
Thanks for sharing. Basil tea, who knew! I am growing Blue Spice and Lemon Basil. I am definitely trying this. My wheels are spinning, on what great flavor combos I could do. Lemon basil and a smidge of lemon thyme? Super cool. Thanks yall! God bless ya for helping us all to learn new things.
Holy cow!!! I love basil, the Hubs hates it! I just picked a bunch this morning and make tea. Enjoying and cold glad on this 105 degree afternoon. Love love love. Thanks for great episode!
This was an eye opening video! I have a small garden starting four plants of each variety of plant. I keep two and give the others away. So I only grew Italian basil. But since I started watching your channel, I’m seeing how beneficial it is to grow different varieties within my crops. Notes for next season (I’m in 5b) so I don’t have the time this year. I’m not sure if Italian basil would make a good tea but I’m going to try it! Thank you expanding my views on how to use crops.
Omg basil tea 🍵 is the balm. I made some basil tea after watching this video I didn't have enough of 1 kind of basil so I mixed sweet basil with purple Opal basil and I didn't have a lemon so I add lemon balm and sweetened it with honey. I have to say it was the best tea I have ever had. I gave some to a friend and she too thought it was the best tea she has ever had. Thank you so much for teaching us how to make basil tea I would love to see more content on things like that and how to preserve your harvest. This is the 1st year I actually started to can and I want to learn as much as I can. I have done some carrots 🥕 and some jams and I love it but I really would love ❤️ to learn how to can complete meals. Thank you so much for all you do may God bless you and your family with a bountiful of crops and love
I made a small batch of purple and traditional green basil today and it is sooo good! I never thought of doing that before. Thanks for the great video!
I make flower tea calendula, marigold, honeysuckle. Add those to hot water let steep for 15-20minutes. Honey to taste. Pour over ice. Then add lemon balm, mint and more flowers to glass to serve. Beautiful!!
I made the tea last night and am having a delicious glass right now! I can't believe I've never made basil tea before. Thank you so much Jess and Taylor for doing this video 😍 I grew lots of lemon, lime and cinnamon basil this summer so I will definitely be making this tea weekly 🤩
I gotta try that “blue spice” one! I’ve been using sweet basil as hot tea for a while. I like it because it’s kinda sweet and light, perfect after dinner. I grew some basil from seed I got at the dollar store called “spice globe”. It’s supposed to be a miniature basil only getting 12” tall. It has those spicy vanilla tones and should make good tea.
After this video I made some Thai Basil iced tea and lemon juice turned it PINK! Like bubble gum pink! So fun! And highly recommend Thai Basil tea. It was so good.
So I was so inspired by this and went out to my garden and picked basil, lemon balm, and parsley and MADE MY OWN TEA! To die for! I put ACV since I didn't had any lemons. Perfect 🥰
Jess, the companion planting benefits of basil are more than tradition! Basil has a root exudate called Rosmarinic acid (RA). RA suppresses phytopthora, a common cause of root and crown rots, in the soil of their intertwined root systems. Traditionally, basil is thought to improve both the color and the flavor of tomatoes. The more we learn about root exudates and the amazing communication between plants, microbes, and soil chemistry, the more we will know the science behind what generations of farmers before us knew from observation.
RA also has human and livestock health benefits as an antioxidant. It is a benefit to chickens and is used in their feed when we add dried or fresh herbs to their rations or treats. RA is also found in oregano and rosemary, both known for anti-inflammatory qualities.
Love this info. Thank you ♥️
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Basil just feels and tastes right…a clue!
Bravo.... Fabulous info .. Thank you.
A. Chandler, next year I will grow far more basil as I have in the past, and will also make teas. This is great information. !! Thank you.
"What to do with the harvest" is a great addition to the "how to grow and get a harvest" content! 💚🌱🍽
Taylor is so lovely. I’d love to see more recipes/ideas from her!
More with Taylor with a tripod steady cam.
Idk what I'm doing wrong but my Basil dies before it goes to seed, maybe too hot? My AC isn't working great it was 85 degrees inside... How do we propagate cuttings for outside? Best if it reseeds 🌻
Need help all my grown or store bought herbs dies quick
I think she has a channel. I know I have seen her before somewhere.
Taylor and Will need a channel too! Unless I missed it?
I went to a conference once where they added rosemary to the water along with peppermint leaves. It was sooo good. I started using different herbs after that. I mixed peppermint, rosemary, and basil in room temperature water and let it steep. It was so good. No sweetners needed.
That sounds delicious. I'm going to give it a try.
Me too!
Lemon and cucumber is great too
I’ve been making basil and smashed blueberry tea for years and it’s so good!
I would love that recipe!
Me too! Would you be willing to share?
Me too!
Oh that really sounds good. Could you share pleae. We love teas
OH MY GOSH!! I cut back a bunch of Thai Basil this morning and was not sure how to use it in cooking because of the anise flavor. I just made tea from it and it is AMAZING!!!! Thank you for sharing this idea with us!
Thank you! I have a lot of Thai basil and I wondered if it would work in tea
Look up a Thai Basil Chicken recipe, it's delicious!
@@britneybarlow9388 Will do! I made the tea yesterday and I love it!
So glad to hear this! I have *so much* Thai basil so so so very much 🙃
@@irmibullinger1421basil is very good for tea lemon basil is the best that I have had so far
I had accidentally made a basil syrup (water decoction and honey, and i was just doing a stove simmer for it to make my home smell good, but it turned into much more!) and I highly recommend that too! I used dark opal basil and it gave a hint of cinnamon with it! Basil is great!
Sounds tasty! How will you use the basil syrup?
@@TheSharna23 I want to put it on pancakes, french toast or just as is! Maybe also as a marinade but not sure, I will have to try it!
You have made a "simple syrup". You could add a small amount soda water/sparkling water for a delightful, refreshing drink.
@@prairielavender I've done that before with burdock! But I wasn't even planning to make a syrup out of basil!
Taylor is amazing. It would be nice to have cooking with Taylor once a week
Yum! I do this with mint, catnip (great sleepy time tea), sage, roselle (the leaves are lemony), rosehips, etc. I also make blends. I've thrown dandelion, nasturtium, and calendula flowers in them. I ice all my tea. Great use of herbs and edible flowers since there's always more than I can use.
I bought some pineapple sage just because it smelled wonderful. I’ll have to try and make some tea with it!
@@grams_garden1924 Heads up, sage by itself can be really strong.
@@HeatherCooan so should I use 1 cup instead of two? I don’t want to waste food.
@@grams_garden1924 I would start off weaker..you can always go stronger..or if too strong, you can dilute it. Sage tea is delicious with honey and lemon..and very good for you. We drink it alot during cold season. Iced is great too though :)
@@grams_garden1924 Either that or just dilute it with more water or add other herbs, citrus, honey, spices to it. Orange peel, sage, and clove are a good combo.
I could listen to / learn from Taylor for days. She has such a calming and relaxing energy to her.
We grew stevia for the first time this year and never thought to use it to sweeten basil tea...I think we'll try steeping it all together! I've been using our lemon basil in ice water with either strawberries or blueberries and it's delicious!!
I've been making basil tea for a year or two now. Love it! Thai basil tea...sooo delicious. I usually mix it with lemon balm, lavender and tiny bits of sage, oregano & thyme. Just depends on the day and what I feel like. 😊
Love the new addition to the team! Welcome Taylor, I am not a tea drinker but my daughters are. You however have convinced me! Hope to see more of both you and Will. Great job Jessica Sowards, as per the ‘usual’ amazing videos!
I was drawn to growing all sorts of basil varieties this year, and I didn't know what to do with most of the basils other than leave them for our pollinators, so thank you Taylor and Jess! This is so fun and helpful!
I'm the same. My cinnamon basil is growing so fast I can't keep up with it. I was looking at it thus morning and wondering what I was going to do with it. Now I know 😁
I bought a 30 pack of mystery seeds from migardener at the end of last year and got lime basil and licorice basil seeds. They smell wonderful and now I know I can make tea with it.
I ended up dehydrating my lemon basil and regular basil and crushed them up, separately, and put them in a little canning jar so I could spice up my sauces and meals.
This Basil tea looks amazing! I am going to make some today! We have so much basil growing, this will be a good way some of it up. Also thanks for posting a link to the recipe, sometimes I forget to take notes as I am watching. 😀
For one who was as camera shy as she was on the 1st video you did with her...she is amazing! Can't wait to see more videos with/from her. I thinks she needs a channel of her own perhaps soon! I happen to have Cinnamon Basil growing in my window sill in the kitchen. I need to transplant it outside so I can hopefully grow more of it and try some of that tea. I do love tea and sweet tea of course but I use Stevia which is also grown as a plant so I wonder if having a tea garden like a pizza garden would be an awesome addition to anyone's kitchen or "other" garden(s). I think I am going to create that for myself here in Middle GA! I moved finally Jess and its not he homestead I dreamed of because I can't have farm animals here but were not homeless. I too am in Zone 8A. Makes things a bit easier now with all things you plant now on your farm are pretty much things I can plant and do so when you do so. I am still learning, and your the best teacher I have had! I have quite a few chairs around my property here now which is all garden but this place needs edible things growing, the trees and flowers are pretty but I love to eat what I grow! Love ya, be blessed.
You can try making a blueberry crisp with your cinnamon basil plant. I use less sugar than most recipes. And chop the basil a bit in the berries, and julienne some in the crispy top. Give it a try!
(I didn't find a plant this year though. ) :-)
@@patchurch1677 Umm thank you for blessings me with this tip and I also don't like to use lots of sugar. I can see making a blueberry iced tear or lemonade with some in it now as well...the possibilities are endless now that I know how to best use my cinnamon basil!
@@LosingDrea Yes, those teas look Great! :-)
So exciting to come in from chores and find a new R&R video to watch with a second cup of coffee!
Yes, I just came in from puppy play time to R&R:)
I absolutely love videos like this. Really just goes to show you what a garden really provides. Teas, medicines, food, household necessities. Love it
Hey Taylor! Y’all her bug spray is seriously good. She is at the Newberry Farmers Market on Saturday if you are local. Just bought the cleaner this weekend. Can’t wait to try the tea!
I need a good bug spray =) does she share her recipe?....if so, how or where can I follow her and find it please?
@@deanacanfield200 yes plz the mosquitos eat me alive and I'm very allergic. Makes Gardening miserable
@@mountaincreekhomestead ohhhh me too. I think I'm the headliner on the Mosquito buffet.
@@deanacanfield200 it's awful I have to stay covered up head to toe. Also found two ticks on my early in the morning watering my garden. Be aware, be safe
I made some and I put some Stevia fresh leaves in it and it turned out pretty good thanks for sharing y’all have a blessed day🦋❤️🌻
Do you grow stevia? I really want to try growing it because I’m looking for a natural calorie free sweetener. I’ve been using monk fruit but it’s expensive and I don’t care for the aftertaste.
@@smhobbs29 I grow Stevia. I have 2 plants and they're perennial in my growing zone 8b. And, WOW, it is intense. And it has an aftertaste too.
You just made my whole DAY. I have 7 kinds of basil growing this year. First year for holy basil, cinnamon and lemon basil and I have used the lemon a couple times when cooking so far but I really wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the others. You got me on HUFFIN BASIL years ago 😂 so I have mainly grown it for the pure AROMATIC PLEASURE but this is a WHOLE NEW LEVEL. THANK YOU MAAM BOTH OF YOU AND I DO HOPE YOUR DAY IS SUPER BLESSED🙏🙏🙏 KEEP SHINING LIGHTS 💡💡💡💚🦋
Try a blueberry crisp with cinnamon basil in the berries and a bit in the crisp part, julienned. I think I used 6 or 8 good sized leaves in all. Good luck from western Massachusetts USA.
I saw this this morning and tried it....it's so yummy!!! New summer drink added to our family. And now I have a reason to go find more types of basil to add to my garden 🎉
Lemon Basil tea is probably my favorite. I started steeping it for my boys and me last year so I am trying to grow a lot more. I am also dehydrating some to have over the winter
I think a coffee shop, which includes teas... basil tea, would be just great! ;)
I just finished my morning walk and that looks very refreshing! Hope y’all have a wonderful day. Take care and God bless. 😀❤️
Yes!!! More tea videos please. I drink tea 24/7. I use stevia
After this video, my life was truly changed 😁 I went right out and made me some basil tea straight away! It's totally delicious and of course I had to use my beautiful tea cup, who doesn't love a tea party right?😋☕️ Thank you so much! Bon appetite 🌿
Taylor’s voice is so calming. Love her! I’ve only ever infused my everyday cold water with tulsi which is 🤌🏼🥰🤌🏼🥰🤌🏼 I’m going to make some tea next!
I made some basil iced tea this afternoon. Added ginger and some black tea. SOOO good!
I'm excited to see that you can do more with basil then making pesto and other yummy dishes!!! I always cover the jar with a lid to keep the natural oils from escaping into the air,, when I am making a tea
I grow bergamot and use the leaves in tea. (earl grey has it) I sometimes add lavender to teas.
I grow stevia and steep a bit of it with my teas so no added sugar. It's easy to grow and I believe it's a perennial in your area.
I have basil simple syrup in my fridge right now and it is so good - mainly been using it on fruit, in matcha lattes, and in lemonade!
I grew holy basil over 20yrs ago and found that years later would find volunteer plants. Oh, how I wish I would have saved some of the seed. I got it, sweet Annie and elephant garlic from my first herbal class. Good memories!
Thanks for sharing this. I’ll be on the lookout for the blue and citrus!
I never grew basil because I didn't know what to do with it. Now I have a reason to grow some basil because I love tea. Hot or cold. It's just so good. Can't wait to try this.
Jess, I love this!! You are so cute in this video❤ My children and I have enjoyed watching yall all these years. My kiddos have grown up with yours, and we are excited about the cooking videos now 😊
Oh man I have SO much blue spiced basil in my garden… now I know what I’m doing with it! I’m going to pick some now!!
Btw I LOVE Taylor’s hair and the calmness about her. She’s very relaxing to listen to.
She exudes peace!
@@RootsandRefugeFarm I just want you guys to know… this tea truly does change your life! Lol I’m drinking a cup now. Oh my goodness. Tastes like Christmas.
@@RootsandRefugeFarm thank you, ladies, for continuing to expand our knowledge and skills on ways to use the plants we grow. Inspiring!!
Taylor is just a unique person!! Can we all be friends?! Loving all your new content Jess.
This is great! I’m about to start some more basil. I definitely want to try the blue spice basil
The wild basil we have here in Brasil {alfavaca} is beyond amazing. I have drank it all my life and each time is like the first
Ok…so it’s been a year since this video but I just made some Lime Basil tea with lemon juice. I steeped the leaves and the tea was green, I then poured it over my ice and lemon juice and it turned bubble gum pink! It is delicious and beautifully refreshing! Thanks Jess and Taylor!
You could dry the leaves and make it like regular tea
Speaking of basil….bruschetta was the best recipe you ever showed me on your channel. I love it!
I literally purchased Lemon basil, and Holy basil after watching this for the first time! I was able to go out and harvest my lemon Basil now, and it’s currently steeping! Smells heavenly!
I appreciate the info on the basil. I am new to gardening and trying to figure out many things. Including what "going to seed" means and how to prevent it. Lol Much to learn. Thanks for giving us close ups in the garden as you work. 💛
Fun video.
Love her curls!
If you haven’t found out yet....many plants send a shoot out the top and then flowers and seeds. Lots of plants you can use the flowers. And then the seeds are ready to harvest when they are drier. Then I put them on a paper towel and let them air dry indoors for a few days when I’m sure they’re completely dry I package them for the next year. This is my first year to do it so hopefully someone else will correct me if I’m wrong. So far it’s working fantastic with marigolds and peppers! It’s like pure magic when they come up💗
I will 100% use this info and make my own tea. This is the content I want from CZcams ❤️
Jess, this is so funny! Just this week I started making basil teas. Your timing of the video can only be a God Send!! I planted for the first time this spring, lemon, cinnamon, holy, summertime,
And others. Mainly to use as night shade companion and pollinators attractant! But I did a cup of steeped lemon and cinnamon MIXED! Warm before bed time…And whoa…I added no sugar and it was awesome….
SO…I asked my dear wife…hmmm? I wonder how it may taste chilled the next morning as I had some left over
From the previous evening!
It was amazing…still not adding honey, but trying to minimize sugars and adjust my palate! Well, it’s game on now!!! Likewise, we used the flowers stems, and seed pods. Basils now have an additional purpose, SUMMER TEA! Amazingly my wife was apprehensive at first but now loves it as well. Your volume (gal) process, answered all my future needs on the how too!! Good work! Gods perfect timing! AMEN!!!
Over the years, you have introduced me to many good things, but Basil tea is the best! Thank you!
This is great and timely! I am have 13 varieties of basil growing and most have already started flowering. I was not planning to use them, except as a companion plant and for their scent and easy to grow in the garden. Now, I will have to try them as teas.
You were not overselling it; this is life changing!
Blue pea tea goes from bluish purple to pink when you add lemon juice....it's beautiful.
Thank you Taylor! I love it when you bring on special guests Jess.
Omg this is my new favorite thing!!! I used cinnamon basil from my cut flower garden, and it is insanely good! 🙌🏻
So far I think I've been growing basils just for the smells. But now I'm off to try this, looking forward to finding the variety in flavors!
Love this Basil drink. I have harvested Basil at a local biodynamic garden years ago to learn and help the gardener. I loved the plant and its fragrance too. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Wow! Never would have thought of making basil into a tea and get all the benefits of basil another way. Thank you for the share
Ok, watched this today and made a quart of no lemon and a quart with lemon. Oh my goodness delicious!!! Thank you for sharing and will be my new favorite summertime drink!
I also think adding some strawberries in it would taste amazing. I have had some tasty cocktails with strawberry and fresh basil, mint, or rosemary. All have tasted amazing so I bet adding a few strawberries would be a great twist.
Well! This is exciting. Thank you Taylor. I love sowing basil a few times over the season to make sure I have an abundance. The moment there is a space, a few seeds get popped in and watered. I have the kettle on right now and I am heading out to the garden. 😃
You REAAAALLY love your basil tea! Wow!
Seriously... a game changer! I am hooked!
Tried this not too long ago and have since introduced to friends who agree that it's refreshing.
Mary's Nest just did a video on making your own vinegar, which I started last month. I just finished it and It was so incredibly easy. She got her ideas from the CZcams channel rain country, who is amazing. She has a recipe for mint and banana skin vinegar that taste like a lemon alternative. She uses it when canning for a lemon juice alternative. Amazing how it tastes. Making vinegar was so easy. You should try it with the kids.
THANK YOU!!! (My life was changed too!!!!!! Now finding places to plant MORE basil...........!)
Yes! I make unsweetened Arnold Palmer with lemon basil, lemon balm and holy basil. 🍃🍃🍃
My game changer was making basil strawberry infused water and sun tea and learning to drink them all without sweeteners. I will try basil with rose petals next. Also experimenting with orange, grapefruit and lemon peel which I dry myself. I try to have a 0 waste house so any leftover tea gets hidden in a smoothie for dinner - the beauty and blessings of the summer garden. Now onto teas for all the seasons...
I grew holy basil last year and let it go to seed and I was disappointed that none came up this year. I noticed a "weed" growing on the weed fabric but let it go because life got busy. I noticed the plant had gotten big and had flowers on it so I left it. John Brown if that wasn't a beautiful Holy basil plant right there growing on top of my plain black weed fabric. Needless to say, it gets to stay there in all her glory!
I have made basil shaved ice, it's delicious. Basically make a sugar syrup and steep the basil in it, freeze until slushy, scrape with a spoon and let freeze til slushy again, do it several times until you get that shaved ice quality. It's sweet and delicious, I had fun serving it because everyone recognized the flavor but couldn't place it.
I have a sweet basil and a Thai basil. Now I can try steeping them. Never would have thought to use basil for tea. TFS!
This basil is awesome as well and tastes like licorice! Stevia is also an awesome source of sweetness
tried Lemon Basil Tea, yesterday and its changed my life. I just went out, today to plant a whole lot more so that I can freeze dry it!
Literally paused this video to go harvest basil to make this tea!! 😊
Thanks for sharing. Basil tea, who knew! I am growing Blue Spice and Lemon Basil. I am definitely trying this. My wheels are spinning, on what great flavor combos I could do. Lemon basil and a smidge of lemon thyme? Super cool. Thanks yall!
God bless ya for helping us all to learn new things.
Holy cow!!! I love basil, the Hubs hates it! I just picked a bunch this morning and make tea. Enjoying and cold glad on this 105 degree afternoon. Love love love. Thanks for great episode!
Very excited to try this with our basil and honey from our bees.
This is great. I am going to go pick my basil and make this. Thank you for sharing. I never would have thought of Basil Tea!
Glad to have another use for all our basil! Thank you 😊
This was an eye opening video! I have a small garden starting four plants of each variety of plant. I keep two and give the others away. So I only grew Italian basil. But since I started watching your channel, I’m seeing how beneficial it is to grow different varieties within my crops. Notes for next season (I’m in 5b) so I don’t have the time this year. I’m not sure if Italian basil would make a good tea but I’m going to try it! Thank you expanding my views on how to use crops.
was it any good?
Did anyone else pause the video midway to go out into the garden and harvest some basil and start a brew?🙋cause I did....
Omg basil tea 🍵 is the balm. I made some basil tea after watching this video I didn't have enough of 1 kind of basil so I mixed sweet basil with purple Opal basil and I didn't have a lemon so I add lemon balm and sweetened it with honey. I have to say it was the best tea I have ever had. I gave some to a friend and she too thought it was the best tea she has ever had. Thank you so much for teaching us how to make basil tea I would love to see more content on things like that and how to preserve your harvest. This is the 1st year I actually started to can and I want to learn as much as I can. I have done some carrots 🥕 and some jams and I love it but I really would love ❤️ to learn how to can complete meals. Thank you so much for all you do may God bless you and your family with a bountiful of crops and love
Enjoyed Taylor and your sweet self , and the wonderful tea creations from other types of Basil that we all may have ... Happy brewing..
I always love a reason to plant more basil 😍😍😍
I’m planting more basil tomorrow, I have more than 50 days. I already have lemon Basil, I can’t wait to make a batch in the morning, to try!
Thank you for being my best enabler, Jess. Now I have to go find Blue Spice Basil. Lol 😂
I made a small batch of purple and traditional green basil today and it is sooo good! I never thought of doing that before. Thanks for the great video!
Yep, life changed here! 😆 I was kinda skeptical at first, but had to try it to know for myself. It’s very refreshing 😋
I tried lemon basil and holy basil today and they are great. I can't wait to try it in a lemonade. Thanks for the great recipes.
I make flower tea calendula, marigold, honeysuckle. Add those to hot water let steep for 15-20minutes. Honey to taste. Pour over ice. Then add lemon balm, mint and more flowers to glass to serve. Beautiful!!
Hello from across the bridge in beautiful Coastal Georgia Zone 8B!
Hi Taylor. I had never heard of Holy Basil. Love the name.
I made the tea last night and am having a delicious glass right now! I can't believe I've never made basil tea before. Thank you so much Jess and Taylor for doing this video 😍 I grew lots of lemon, lime and cinnamon basil this summer so I will definitely be making this tea weekly 🤩
I’m going out and cutting my basil and making this tea! Thank you 🙏 Jesse and Taylor ❤️🪴🪴🪴🪴
I gotta try that “blue spice” one! I’ve been using sweet basil as hot tea for a while. I like it because it’s kinda sweet and light, perfect after dinner. I grew some basil from seed I got at the dollar store called “spice globe”. It’s supposed to be a miniature basil only getting 12” tall. It has those spicy vanilla tones and should make good tea.
Saw this when it originally was posted last year. Just making it today. I can’t wait.
Basil Lemonade or Thai basil lemonade is the BOMB!
I went right out and picked purple opal basil. It’s currently steeping. The water is a light turquoise. It’s beautiful.
I've already printed the tea recipe from the email. Can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the new resource. I'd never heard of PFAF but now that I've roamed the site for a bit I'm stoked! :)
After this video I made some Thai Basil iced tea and lemon juice turned it PINK! Like bubble gum pink! So fun! And highly recommend Thai Basil tea. It was so good.
Thank you for teaching new ways with basil. I cannot wait to try.
So I was so inspired by this and went out to my garden and picked basil, lemon balm, and parsley and MADE MY OWN TEA! To die for! I put ACV since I didn't had any lemons. Perfect 🥰