Cinnamon basil

Cinnamon basil

Flowering cinnamon basil in late summer
Species Ocimum basilicum
Cultivar 'Cinnamon'
Young cinnamon basil in late spring

Cinnamon basil is a type of basil (Ocimum basilicum). The term "cinnamon basil" can refer to a number of different varieties of basil, including as a synonym for Thai basil (O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora), as a particular cultivar of Thai basil,[1] and as a separate cultivar in its own right (i.e., O. basilicum 'Cinnamon').[2][3][4] This article discusses the latter type.

Description

Cinnamon basil, also known as Mexican spice basil,[5] has a spicy, fragrant aroma and flavor. It contains methyl cinnamate, the same chemical that gives cinnamon its flavor.[6] Cinnamon basil has somewhat narrow, slightly serrated, dark green, shiny leaves with reddish-purple veins, which can resemble certain types of mint, and produces small, pink flowers from July to September.[5][7][4][8] Its stems are dark purple.[9] Cinnamon basil grows to 18–30 inches tall.[3]

Cultivation

Cinnamon basil is an easy-to-grow herb. It requires six to eight hours of bright sunlight per day. Although it is often grown as an annual, it is a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9–11. Cinnamon basil is sometimes planted near tomatoes and roses to discourage pests such as whiteflies.[4]

Uses

Cinnamon basil is used in teas and baked goods such as cookies and pies.[4][2] It is also used in pastas, salads, jellies, and vinegars.[5][7] Outside the kitchen, cinnamon basil is used in dried arrangements and as a potpourri.[7]

Space

Cinnamon basil was taken into space by the Space Shuttle Endeavour during STS-118 and grown in an experiment in low Earth orbit on the International Space Station.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Porter, Todd; Diane, Cu. "Victory Garden Herbs". White on Rice Couple. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Meyers, Michele (2003). Basil: An Herb Society of America Guide (PDF). The Herb Society of America. p. 32. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jordi, Rebecca. "Basil". University of Florida Nassau County Extension. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Dyer, M.H. "Cinnamon Basil Plant". SFGate Home Guides. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Basil". Sunland Herbs. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Gernot Katzer. "Basil". Spice Pages. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 MacKenzie, Jill (October 2007). "Growing basil". University of Minnesota Extension. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  8. ↑ McVicar, Jekka (2010). Grow Herbs. London: DK Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 9780756664275.
  9. ↑ Lehnhardt, Patricia. "10 Basil Varieties and How to Use Them". Hobby Farms. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Naik, Nitin (30 January 2008). "A Plant Growth Chamber". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 5 April 2014.