PLANT SPOTLIGHT - BLOOMING BASIL

How to Use Blooming Basil 

Over the next few posts I want to shed some light on the sweet, pungent herb that is basil (Ocimum basilicum). In all honesty, although I continue grow this robust summery herb year after year, I really do not incorporate it enough into my everyday wellbeing. It’s a such shame and massive loss of a magickal ingredient, as it really packs a punch of flavour into any dish. So this week, I have looked at how I can use all elements of this royal plant - from the seeds, to the leaves, to the flowers. 

What should you do when your basil starts to bloom?

The recent hot and humid weather has sent my basil plants into overdrive and they seem to be constantly shooting up stalks of flowers. So I decided to snip a few and make a lovely pot of fragrant flower tea. I know the weather is scorching right now but I find a cup of tea helps cool me down!

If your basil plant has also suddenly started producing little flower spikes, don’t panic - and don’t throw them away. Those delicate basil flowers are more than just a sign that summer is moving on. 

You can pinch the flowers off to encourage more leafy growth, leave some flowers for the bees, or harvest a few to make a fragrant herbal tea, scatter over a salad or add to summer dishes. The flowers are pretty but by pinching off the flower buds as soon as they emerge, it will help delay the flowering process so we may be able to get another harvest of leaves before the flavour begins to decline and the plant starts to perish in colder months.

Are basil flowers edible?

Yes - Basil flowers are edible, beautifully aromatic and loved by bees and other pollinators. The blooms taste similar to the leaves, but slightly milder in flavour, making them surprisingly versatile in the kitchen.

Basil blooms can complement tomato dishes, oils, salad dressings and soups. They can be used fresh as a garnish, stirred into salads, infused into drinks or simply enjoyed as part of the plant's transition from leafy herb to flowering plant.

Why is my basil flowering?

Basil is a warm-weather herb, and flowering is a completely natural part of its life cycle.

When temperatures rise and summer progresses, basil plants can suddenly seem to shoot upwards, producing tall stems topped with tiny flowers. This is the plant preparing to reproduce.

The catch? Once basil starts flowering, the leaves can become less tender and their flavour may change. If your priority is harvesting lots of fresh basil leaves, regularly pinching out flower buds can help prolong leafy growth.

But there's another option - and it's one we rather like.

Let some of your basil bloom.

Because basil flowers produce nectar that bees enjoy, allowing at least some plants to flower can turn your herb patch into a tiny source of forage for pollinators.

So rather than seeing flowering as the end of your basil harvest, think of it as the beginning of another stage.

Leaves for you. Flowers for the bees. And perhaps a little flower tea for a warm summer evening. Learn how you can use basil seeds here.

Basil flowers and bees: should you leave them on the plant?

Yes, it's worth allowing some plants to flower. Bees visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and flowering plants are an important food source for pollinating insects, especially at the start of spring and end of Summer. We highly recommend providing a range of nectar- and pollen-rich flowers throughout the year to support garden pollinators.

Our basil rule?

Pinch a few. Leave a few. Eat a few.

Remove some flower spikes if you want to encourage fresh leafy growth, but let other stems bloom so visiting bees and insects can make the most of them.

Medicinal benefits

Acts as an anti-inflammatory, consists of phytochemicals, full of healing and antiseptic properties, improves digestion, prevents acne outbreaks and also speeds up the healing process of acne lesions….the power of this classic herb is endless.

It’s definitely a herb that deserves the spotlight and one that I have so much respect for. It will always hold a place in my sanctuary of herbs and I will definitely be further exploring its holistic multitude of uses into my everyday wellbeing.

Wild Bee Basil Flower Tea

If your basil is flowering faster than you can use it, here's an easy way to turn those blooms into something delicious.

Ingredients

• A small handful of fresh basil flowers
• 1–2 cups freshly boiled water
• Raw unpasteurised honey
• Fresh lemon/lime
• Ice, if making iced basil flower tea

Method

1. Gently rinse the basil flowers and remove any insects or damaged flowers.
2. Place the flowers in a teapot or heatproof jug.
3. Pour over freshly boiled water.
4. Allow to infuse for around 5 minutes, tasting as you go.
5. Strain into a cup.
6. Enjoy warm, or allow it to cool and pour over ice.
7. Add a little honey and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Tip: Keep the infusion relatively light. Basil flowers are delicate, and a long steep can produce a more bitter flavour.

Foraged and home-grown flowers should only be eaten when you've correctly identified them and know they haven't been exposed to pesticides or other contaminants.

My basil plant has gone to seed? What can I do?

What most people do not know is that basil seeds are completely edible too and harness so much nutritional power. Learn how to implement them into food and drink here.

Follow us on Instagram for more updates from our sanctuary! @wildbee_co

— Moni Dajee, founder of The Wild Bee Company | artist, apiarist + alchemist