Tea Bush, East Indian Basil
Ocimum gratissimum

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It generally has reddish green leaves. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 0.6-1.8 m high. It has a woody base. The leaves can be smooth or hairy. They are oval and have teeth along the edge. The flowers are green or dull yellow. They are in clusters.

There are between 100 and 150 Ocimum species.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical and temperate places. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zone 10. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andes, Angola, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nigeria, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. They are used in soups. They are used for flavouring. They impart a bitter flavour to food. The leaves are used to flavour tea. The seeds are sometimes eaten.

Leaves are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, spice, seeds, flower, vegetable, tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

The leaves are plucked from the plant.

Its other names

Local names

Albahaca cimarrona, Alounmamba, Ambaba, Anchabii, Ancheba, Aribala, Assoou, Avachibavachi, Babari, Ban tulsi, Bantulasi, Banjere, Daddoya, Daidoya, Dinioka nioka, Dinsusu nsusu, Doreda, Doroda, Efinrin, Efop, Elumicham tulasi, Fesong, Fever plant of Sierra Leone, Jiu ceng ta, Kattuthulasi, Kattu trittavu, Lumba lumba, Mansusua nsusua, Mazudi zudi, Mecheup, Mujaaja, Mujaja, Mukandu, Nchanwu, Nganako, Nimma tulasi, Ntonng, Perum tulasi, Ram tulsi, Rama tulsi, Rana tulsi, Ruku-ruku hitam, Selaseh besar, Selaseh jambi, Shrubby basil, Tibodayati, Tiboseyenti, Tignainte, Vriddhutulsi

Synonyms

Ocimum gratissimum Forssk.; Ocimum suave Willd.; Ocimum urticifolium Roth; Ocimum viride Willd.; Ocimum viridiflorum Roth.;