Basil seed

The term "basil seed" can be confusing because it can refer to the seeds of two different plants: sweet basil and holy basil.

• Sweet basil is the most common type of basil, and its seeds are often used in cooking. They are small and black in appearance. They have a mild, nutty flavor and are often used in Indian cuisine. They can also be soaked in water and added to smoothies (like faloodas) or yogurt.
• Holy basil seeds are often used in tea or supplements. The seeds are slightly larger than sweet basil seeds and have a slightly bitter flavor.

The economics of basil seed production are relatively simple. The main cost is the cost of seeds. Basil seeds are relatively inexpensive to produce, and they can be grown in a variety of climates. The main challenge in basil seed production is the need for a consistent supply of water. Basil seeds are sensitive to drought, and they will not germinate if the soil is too dry.

The average yield of basil seeds is about 1,000 pounds per acre. The cost of production is about $100 per acre, which includes the cost of seeds, fertilizer, and labor. The average price of basil seeds is about $1 per pound, which means that the profit margin for basil seed production is about $900 per acre.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-25 |title=Johnny's Selected Seeds - Direct Seeded Vegetables Crop Chart |url=https://www.johnnyseeds.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-JSSSharedLibrary/default/dwc4643efa/assets/information/vegetables-direct-seeded-crop-seed-quantity-yield-chart.pdf |access-date=2023-08-26}}

File:Basil growing time lapse.gif

Basil seeds are typically grown in India, China, and Mexico. The main growing season for basil seeds is from March to June. In plantations, basil seeds are planted in rows that are at least 12 inches apart.{{Cite web |date=2014-09-20 |title=Growing Sweet Basil in Mumbai |url=https://mumbaifarmer.com/what-to-grow/growing-basil-in-mumbai/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Mumbai Farmer |language=en}} The seeds are planted about 1/4 inch deep. Basil seeds need about 1 inch of water per week. They also need to be fertilized every 2 weeks.{{Cite web |last=Jabbour |first=Niki |date=2022-02-10 |title=Growing Basil From Seed: A Step-by-Step Guide |url=https://savvygardening.com/growing-basil-from-seed/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Savvy Gardening |language=en-US}}

Basil seeds are harvested when they are fully ripe.{{Cite web |title=Basil {{!}} Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation |url=https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/basil/infos |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=plantvillage.psu.edu}} The seeds are typically harvested by hand. The seeds are then dried and cleaned. Basil seeds can be stored for up to 1 year. Basil crops are also regarded to be bee magnets, as they attract a lot of bees in the summer (flowering stage).

The history of basil seeds and their use in traditional medicine dates back centuries in India and Southeast Asia.{{Cite web |title=Basil |url=https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1997/3-21-1997/basil.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=hortnews.extension.iastate.edu |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518071058/https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1997/3-21-1997/basil.html |url-status=live }}{{Citation |last1=Sharma |first1=Akanksha |title=Chapter 1 - Herbal medicine—An introduction to its history |date=2021-01-01 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128155653000011 |work=Herbal Medicine in Andrology |pages=1–8 |editor-last=Henkel |editor-first=Ralf |access-date=2023-05-18 |publisher=Academic Press |language=en |isbn=978-0-12-815565-3 |last2=Sabharwal |first2=Pooja |last3=Dada |first3=Rima |editor2-last=Agarwal |editor2-first=Ashok}}

Basil seeds were also used in traditional Chinese medicine. The Shennong Bencaojing, an ancient Chinese pharmacopoeia that dates back to the 1st century AD, lists basil seeds as a remedy for a variety of conditions, including coughs, colds, and headaches.{{Cite journal |last1=Shahrajabian |first1=Mohamad Hesam |last2=Sun |first2=Wenli |last3=Cheng |first3=Qi |date=2020-01-01 |title=Chemical components and pharmacological benefits of Basil ( Ocimum basilicum ): a review |journal=International Journal of Food Properties |language=en |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=1961–1970 |doi=10.1080/10942912.2020.1828456 |s2cid=228821281 |issn=1094-2912|doi-access=free }}

Basil seeds can also cause allergic reactions in some people. Symptoms of an allergic reactions to basil seeds can include hives, itching, swelling, and difficulty breathing.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-21 |title=Basil Allergy Symptoms and Diagnosis |url=https://allergy-symptoms.org/basil-allergy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401072315/https://allergy-symptoms.org/basil-allergy/ |archive-date=2022-04-01 |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Allergy Symptoms |language=en-US}}

In South Asia & Southeast Asia, basil seeds may be added added to lassi or falooda, or to desserts, such as buko pandan and halo-halo.{{cn|date=March 2025}} In the Middle East, they are used in hibiscus tea and horchata.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

File:Basilseeds.jpg|Basil seeds before soaking in water

File:Basilseed soaked with water.jpg|Basil seeds after soaking in water for 15 minutes

File:Basil seed melon flavored drink - Massachusetts.jpg|Basil seeds in a melon-flavored drink

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Category:Edible nuts and seeds

Category:Ocimum