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Old September 12, 2015   #1
TomNJ
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Default Do you dry basil flowers as an herb?

I was so busy canning tomatoes this summer that I negligently let my sweet basil go to flower. I cut off all the flower stalks in hopes that there will be enough time for another crop of leaves before the first frost, but now what to do with all of these flower stalks. Can I dry the little flower leaves (not the flowers), that is, will they have the same taste and intensity as an herb as the green leaves?

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Old September 12, 2015   #2
imp
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To me they do. I have used fresh basil flowers, candied, on savory and sweet dishes.
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Old September 12, 2015   #3
Zana
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Quote:
Originally Posted by imp View Post
To me they do. I have used fresh basil flowers, candied, on savory and sweet dishes.
Ditto. Also used the flowers in making jellies and dry and grind into a powder. Sometimes find the little leaves around the flowers and the flowers more intense than the bigger ones, but depends upon the variety.
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Old September 13, 2015   #4
zeroma
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On Thai basil I have used the flowers to make tomato sauces. Also dried the flowers, stalks and leaves together as they are much more delicate than sweet basil and take half the time.

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Old September 14, 2015   #5
KC.Sun
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You can use the flowers fresh or dried. It's common in South East Asian dishes.

Fresh is preferred over dried though.
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Old October 2, 2015   #6
gvozdika
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After collecting basil seeds I save those husks(?) and use them in tea.
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Old October 3, 2015   #7
TomNJ
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Thank you all! My flower stalks are drying and I'll grind them up soon.

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Old October 6, 2015   #8
drew51
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I'm growing besides regular basil, African Blue basil and it seem to flower a lot. It is a hybrid, so you can keep flowers on it without worry of the plant dying. It's more a shrub really. I plan to overwinter it in a south window or under lights. It may be a good choice for flower harvest?
I'm growing a number of unusual herbs this year. Mexican, Mexican bush, and Cuban oregano. All are shrubs and not true oregano's. Cuban is a variegated succulent.
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