Holy Basil Purple Leaf (BH02)

Tea type
Herbal Tea
Ingredients
Basil
Flavors
Not available
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Loose Leaf
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Rumpus Parable
Average preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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17 Tasting Notes View all

From Upton Tea Imports

This fine-cut leaf grade of Holy Basil, (aka Tulsi), produces a rich cup with a complex and spicy character. The dominant flavor notes are anise and pepper, with nuances of citrus and cinnamon.

About Upton Tea Imports View company

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17 Tasting Notes

86
985 tasting notes

Tea of the late afternoon…..

Turns out we have strep at our house. Or at least my son does. He went to school Wed., Thurs. and today because the quick strep test came back negative on Tues. after missing the first two days of school this week. He is actually feeling pretty well today and was planning his weekend when the docs office called that he has strep according to the more accurate long test. I guess we will be in for at least a day. All of that could explain my slight sore throat and lethargy. Let’s hope I don’t actually get it too, and these are just sympathy symptoms.

Anyway, this tea helps whatever is ailing me. I feel a little better already. Now for a nap….

Preparation
Boiling 7 min, 45 sec
Uniquity

Ugh, strep. Feel better!

ashmanra

Don’t forget to throw away the toothbrushes! You don’t want to re-infect yourselves.

Indigobloom

Ouches! get well soon xx

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81
136 tasting notes

1-1/2 tsp, 8 minutes, 2 tsp honey

I’m testing and comparing all of Upton’s Holy Basil (Tulsi) choices tonight. After loving Organic India’s Vanilla Tulsi, which is a blend of 3 types of tulsi and a few other things, I wanted to see where the flavors came from, in hopes of duplicating the blend.

When I smelled this in the bag, there was no obvious aromas that stuck out. When measuring, there was a little bit of clove/cinnamon and a hint of mint. Brewed, the clove note is coming out first, but not as strongly in the Organic India blend. There is definately a minty note coming through too, but the clove tramples all over it in the aftertaste.

This is good. Not as good, but good. Weaker tasting, even with an 8 minute steep vs. 5.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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96
117 tasting notes

It would probably be a bad idea to drink caffeinated tea at 10pm, so I’ve switched to herbal. I love this tea.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more
SimplyJenW

My timer just went off for this one, too!

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294 tasting notes

This is my second tasting of Holy Basil. I am going to make this and Celestial Seasons Tension Tamer my late-night relaxation brews. This is rich and complex in flavor and definitely something for later in the evening. I brewed this one day in the afternoon and I could not figure out why I was so mellow, bordering on sleepy. Thanks to all of the Steepsterites who turned me on to this herb.

TeaBrat

Yeah! I love Holy Basil aka Tulsi. :)

Charles Thomas Draper

There is something very cool about this herb….

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76
5 tasting notes

Made some for my mom, brother and me after a delicious meal of Middle Eastern: hummus, mujaddara, falafel, baba ghanouj, tabbouli…yum!
This works well as a ‘digestif,’ light, soothing and refreshing
Most obvious to me was the smell of cloves that filled the kitchen while it was steeping.
Spicy anise, cloves and an end note of mint. Has a medicinal quality but not unpleasantly.
I think it’s pretty fantastic, mom likes it well enough, although thinks it’s probably an acquired taste, and my brother said he likes the smell better than the taste.
I think the mixed reviews are pretty indicative of the highly unusual and unique flavor..it’s definitely interesting!

Edit: I didn’t use sugar or milk with this one, don’t think it needs it. I would definitely drink it again but my family was more ambivalent, so I averaged out ratings. For me personally I’d put it at an 85.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more
Jim Marks

I think the meal you describe would have been perhaps better paired with a sweet tea. North African cuisine has a lot in common with Middle Eastern and Persian and the Moroccans are obsessed with green tea thick with sugar.

This Holy Basil sounds like it might have gone better with a sweet dessert to off-set the medicinal spices.

jordanze

thanks for the advice, I’ll try that next time!

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90
17 tasting notes

This was the first holy basil I sampled, and I loved it. Since then, I’ve tried holy basil from a number of other companies, and also tried Upton’s green leaf (BH06), but I strongly prefer this one. It’s warm and balanced, rich, complex. Aroma is balanced, and mostly of spice. I also find this herbal tea to be very relaxing.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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92
1137 tasting notes

Amazing herbal tea. I will definitely have to add this to my permanent stock…
So relaxing!
(By the way, I love the name. Holy basil!)

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 8 min or more

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