Fresh Tulsi Tea aka Holy Basil, will help you to find your inner peace and balance.
This tea assists you in centering your mind by keeping it clear and focused on your tasks ahead.
Get the instructions on how to make tulsi tea further below.
You can make tulsi tea with fresh leaves or dried leaves.
Also, choose to have the holy basil tea hot or as an iced tea!
Besides you can choose to make this tea by including more ingredients to prepare a detox tea, just the way I did here with the herbal tea mixture.
What is Tulsi?
You might have heard of Tulsi before.
Tulsi is also called Holy Basil as is related to the common Italian Basil and the Thai Basil.
There are countless basil varieties in this world, holy basil/tulsi is just another one.
The Tulsi plant grows into a shrub which emits a refreshing aroma.
It’s supposed to keep mosquitoes away as well.
There are about 4 Tulsi varieties out there.
Each differs mostly from the looks, some being more green others more purple besides the obvious taste difference.
- Rama Tulsi
- Vana Tulsi
- Krishna Tulsi
- Shyam Tulsi
The most common Tulsi variation is Rama Tulsi, those are bright green (as seen in the pictures)
I bought a pack of seeds some few weeks ago with the name “Shyam Tulsi” on it.
I planted them and they have grown in size as you can see on my Instagram, but they are licorice in flavor and completely different in shape and color compared to the tulsi in this post.
Tulsi has been getting around in the world and these days you can buy and grow tulsi in any climate.
Tulsi plants love a lot of sunlight and water.
A friend, who usually comes at least once a year to visit me, was smitten by the vast amounts of green holy basil decorating our garden.
She was excited by the freshness and sweetness around her and she proclaimed with her spiritual knowledge, that the tulsi plants protect the surrounding and help the garden to stay pure.
She is not the only one harboring this belief.
Tulsi is considered to be one of the holiest plants in India (where the plant originates) and makes a well known ayurvedic herbal plant.
Tulsi/Holy Basil health benefits
One thing is crystal clear, tulsi is a super healthy herb!
When taken in as a tea, it can assist your health in different ways.
Tulsi helps you to relax and cope with stress, it soothes your being.
Tulsi promotes longevity due to the huge amount of included antioxidants in the plant
Tulsi lowers blood sugar levels and is so suitable for Diabetic Type 2 patients
Tulsi also decreases Cholesterol levels.
Tulsi leaves are known to harbor antibacterial properties and hence the Holy Basil has proofed to cure ailments such as…
- common cold – clears excess mucus and helps in the healing process
- stomachache – soothes indigestion and works as a natural painkiller
- earaches – concentrated Tulsi juice may assist in the healing process
- urinary infection – The slimy Tulsi seeds are known to soothe painful urination
- Insect bites – Poultice of fresh leaves and roots reduces the itching and irritating swelling (especially when combined with neem oil)
Tulsi Herbal Tea
If you like herbal teas, then get a small Tulsi plant or Tulsi seeds to grow in a small pot at home.
I think you can grow the holy basil in an apartment too if you keep it somewhere near adequate sunlight.
It keeps the surrounding fresh and will lend your apartment a lovely sweet aroma.
You can use fresh or dried Tulsi leaves to make this tulsi tea.
You can add sugar too if you want.
Just cool that tea and store it in a fridge and you have an iced tea.
I use the same concept to prepare my fresh lemongrass tea or the mango iced tea.
Tulsi variations for you to try.
Just add these ingredients to the recipe below (in small doses!), mix and match yourself.
- Ginger (energizes)
- Licorice roots (great when you have a cold to boost immunity or help you breath)
- White Tea (instead of green or black tea, has more antioxidants)
- Chamomile flowers (relaxes your body and mind)
- to your Chai milk blend (follow the chai recipe and just add the tulsi leaves)
- Lemon/Lime Juice (Vitamin C)
- Moringa leaves
Dear reader, have you ever tried Tulsi Tea before?
Tulsi Ice Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups Water
- handful Fresh Tulsi Leaves or 1 1/2 Tablespoon dried flaked Tulsi leaves
- 1 Tablespoon Black Tea Leaves or Green Tea leaves
- Sugar or Honey, Stevia
Instructions
- Add the Water to a Pot with the Tulsi leaves and the tea leaves.
- Steep the herbs in water for 5-10 minutes.
- Strain, sweeten, enjoy.
- For Tulsi iced tea, let it cool. Serve with ice.
Leo Tat says
To be honest, I have not heard of Tulsi before, but so many health benefits, I need to try this tea out. I just need to wait till the weather here in the UK gets warmer, then I can drink this with ice in the garden.
Charles says
Hi Helene, I don’t think I’ve heard of tulsi before – yet another delightful sounding thing you’ve introduced me to! Could you make a pesto with it I wonder?
Minnie@thelady8home says
I miss Tulsi here – it is of course the holiest plant we have, and we are often deeply connected to it in a spiritual way. Tulsi is excellent for allergies and I love drinking tea with the leaves.
Helene Dsouza says
yeah I missed it too in Europe. I wonder if it would survive the cold. I had forgotten to bring seeds to europe last year. Next time I ll take some to france instead of the austrian apls, they might have more chances to survive in the french climate.
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I’ve never tried Tulsi Ice Tea, so it was nice to learn something new! I love your drink shot – you successfully seduced readers to try this recipe with your gorgeous photos. 😉
Malli says
I’ve heard so much about the nutritional value of Tulsi but never heard of Tulsi tea….sounds and looks so soothing!!
Helene Dsouza says
You need to give it a try then 😉
Gourmantine says
Great post Helene, never tried Tulsi tea before, but would love to get my hands on some (even if it would be only dried variety).
Helene Dsouza says
Ah maybe that could be solved in the future. Let’s see what I can do, and in case I ll let you know. 😉
Kitchen Belleicious says
i would love to try this! It looks so refreshing and beneficial
Helene Dsouza says
You should try to get a hand on it during summer, it’s really super refreshing.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
What perfect timing, I’m just discovering Tulsi and all it’s benefits!
Helene Dsouza says
It’s a very useful herb and in fact its quite versatile. You could add it to a salad as well or how about a pesto? i am getting creative again ^.^
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I can’t find the Indian tulsi here, but the dried version definitely beats any other summer beverage. Love your clicks!
Sandra’s Easy Cooking says
I am drinking right now tea from dry basil, and I love the strong aroma. I do use basil one for culinary uses and leave under the lid for minute or two longer. I don’t know if I tried before Indian basil. Either way it’s very delicious and nutritional herb and tea. Great post and wonderful pictures!
Helene Dsouza says
Thank you Sandra. Oh and I so agree, the aroma is mesmerizing and so refreshing after a long day. =)
Angie@Angie’s Recipes says
I have never heard of or had tulsi. Now I am totally intrigued.
mjskit says
I’ve never heard of Tulsi. The way you describe it I know that I would love it. The plant doesn’t even look familiar. Probably too dry of a climate here. It sounds delicious and you just reminded me that I need to go make a pot of tea. Wish I had some Tulsi leaves!
Gomo | cHowDivine.com says
I’ve never tried tulsi. I’ve had Thai holy basil many times in Thai cuisine, but I think it’s a different variety. I would love to try this tea. It looks so refreshing. Thanks for the informative post Helene!
Helene Dsouza says
I am not sure, the articles online are a bit confusing. it might be that the thai holy basil is the same as our tulsi after all. We ll only know if we compare them =)
kitchenriffs says
I don’t believe I’ve ever had tulsi. Sound terrific! And when the weather is hot, iced tea is so refreshing. Perfect recipe – thanks.
Helene Dsouza says
You ought to try it out, I am so sure you would enjoy it John.
CCU says
Tulsi reminds me of Tulsi Das, the great Indian poet
I would love to make this ice tea, sounds delicious!
Cheers
CCU
Helene Dsouza says
lol you are cute. hey, I d make you some if you come over.
Eha says
This is great – I know we can easily get dried tulsi leaves here in Australia, yet I have never tried the tea! As I hugely believe in natural therapies and have to admit to quite a few of the ‘ailments’ enumerated, this will be bought and tried soonest. Thank you, Helene !
Helene Dsouza says
Oh yes you get that in Australia? Let me know how you liked it after your first tea try.
Nancy/SpicieFoodie says
I have never tried tulsi tea but from your description it sounds like one I would love. Also wouldn’t mind having a plant to grow — to bad I kill all my plants, lol. Thanks for sharing Helene.:)
Helene Dsouza says
lol you kind of sound like me. At least now I am getting better with the planting story. ^.^ Maybe I can get you some seeds one day, tulsi isn’t that complicated to grow otherwise. The seeds pick up quickly and as long as there is no frost they grow fine.
dassana says
i love tulsi tea. i make it like the way you have made and have it chilled. i have read as per kirlian photography, the tulsi and neem plants have a very large aura (don’t remember how many sq metres in area) which purifies the whole surrounding near them. they also give ozone. btw even no insects or mosquitoes come near neem trees.
Helene Dsouza says
Their Aura is very pure too, completely white without other energies. yeah I remember reading this in an old book about India, many years back. But at that time I had no clue what tulsi was. We have a neem tree too and one is standing in the neighboring compound, exactly from where all the mosquitoes are streaming in. So that’s why I don’t think that they actually repel mosquitoes. At least here the buggers are really strong.