Are the flowers on a basil plant edible?
Question:Hey,
Just wonderin' if anyone knows whether or not you can eat the flowering part of the basil plant. I was so busy this last week that I wasn't able to keep up with some stuff in my garden. Well, my basil plant went crazy and got all covered in flowers/pods or whatever they are and I just wondered if I need to just cut them all off and throw them away or if they can be eaten. I don't want to leave them on, because I don't want the plant to go to seed yet. So I will be cutting them all off in a day or two - hopefully they are useful too -- I hate to waste them.
Thanks for your help. Hopefully I can reach someone who actually knows about this??
Answers:
The herb leaves as you know are edible.and the stems and seed pods can be used for their oil..the oil is a aid in healing acne and arthritis. I know for a fact that is works on acne, as my kids have used it, never tried it for arthritis.
There isn't any reason that I have read that they are harmful to eat but I imagine the taste would be more bitter.
I have never eaten the flowers.But I do use the flowers to make into Pot Pourri, with other herbs.They say the flowers keep flies away.There are two or more forms these days.Sweet Basil, Bush Basil, and I've seen a purple variety.The Sweet Basil is best for outdoors.The French valmorin is the best indoors, and has a particularly delicious flavor.But if you can get hold of the -Illustrated Book of Herbs, byGilda Daisley.Published by Book Club Associates, you'll learn much more. Good Luck!
They sure are, I use them all the time. A bit sharper a flavor than the leaves, but very good. Keep pinching them off to extend the life of the plant but don't let them go to waste.
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