In medieval times basil was used as an indicator plant. If a girl touched a basil bush and it withered, it meant she was not a virgin! Jackie French tested the theory using a sacred basil plant, with very dubious results - she concluded that perhaps it was the wrong species of basil. Sacred basil does have many interesting uses though, for example in cooking, as a mosquito repellent, a herbal tea to clean scratches and as a holy plant around temples.

Plant details

Common name: Sacred basil
Botanic name: Ocimum tenuiflorum
Description: An aromatic perennial herb to around 1 metre (3') tall.
Best climate: Sacred basil is not frost hardy. In cool areas treat it as a summer annual or plant in a warm protected position, for example against a stone wall which will trap heat.

Sacred basil sauce

This is one of Jackie's favourite recipes using sacred basil. It can be served hot or cold with grilled fish or chicken, or poured over chopped cooked potatoes for a delicious hot or cold potato salad.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 litre (4 cups) coconut milk
• 1 chilli, fresh or dried
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tablespoon chopped sacred basil leaves

Method

Saute onion and garlic in a pan until soft. Add the coconut milk, chilli, brown sugar and lemon juice and boil vigorously for ten minutes. Add the sacred basil leaves and boil for a further five minutes.

Getting started

Herb pots of sacred basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) are available in nurseries and garden centres for around $3.00. In southern parts of Australia they are more freely available in spring.

Copyright CTC Productions 1999