Cinnamon basil
{{Short description|Variety of basil}}
{{Infobox cultivar
| name = Cinnamon basil
| image = Cinnamon Basil Cary NC IMG 4092.jpg
| image_caption = Flowering cinnamon basil in late summer
| species = Ocimum basilicum
| cultivar = 'Cinnamon'
| origin =
}}
Cinnamon basil is a type of basil (Ocimum basilicum). The term "cinnamon basil" can refer to a number of different varieties of basil, including as a synonym for Thai basil (O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora), as a particular cultivar of Thai basil,{{cite web|last1=Porter|first1=Todd|last2=Diane|first2=Cu|title=Victory Garden Herbs|url=http://whiteonricecouple.com/victory-gardens/herbs/|website=White on Rice Couple|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128170947/https://whiteonricecouple.com/victory-gardens/herbs/|url-status=dead}} and as a separate cultivar in its own right (i.e., O. basilicum 'Cinnamon').{{cite book|last1=Meyers|first1=Michele|title=Basil: An Herb Society of America Guide|date=2003|publisher=The Herb Society of America|page=32|url=http://www.herbsociety.org/factsheets/Basil%20Guide.pdf|access-date=6 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319013711/http://www.herbsociety.org/factsheets/Basil%20Guide.pdf|archive-date=19 March 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Jordi|first1=Rebecca|title=Basil|url=http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/Horticulture/herbs/basil.html|website=University of Florida Nassau County Extension|access-date=6 December 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Dyer|first1=M.H.|title=Cinnamon Basil Plant|url=http://homeguides.sfgate.com/cinnamon-basil-plant-71436.html|website=SFGate Home Guides|access-date=6 December 2014}} This article discusses the latter type.
Description
Cinnamon basil, also known as Mexican spice basil,{{cite web|title=Basil|url=http://www.sunlandherbs.com/about/basil/|website=Sunland Herbs|access-date=6 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912080825/http://www.sunlandherbs.com/about/basil/|archive-date=12 September 2012}} has a spicy, fragrant aroma and flavor. It contains methyl cinnamate, giving it a flavor reminiscent of cinnamon.{{cite web | url=http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/Ocim_bas.html|title=Basil|work=Spice Pages|author=Gernot Katzer|access-date=2012-12-02}} Cinnamon basil has somewhat narrow, slightly serrated, dark green, shiny leaves with reddish-purple veins, which can resemble certain types of mint, and produces small, pink flowers from July to September.{{cite web|last1=MacKenzie|first1=Jill|title=Growing basil|url=http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/growing-basil/|website=University of Minnesota Extension|access-date=6 December 2014|date=October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214135730/http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/growing-basil/|archive-date=14 December 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite book|last1=McVicar|first1=Jekka|title=Grow Herbs|url=https://archive.org/details/growherbs00mcvi|url-access=limited|date=2010|publisher=DK Publishing|location=London|isbn=9780756664275|page=[https://archive.org/details/growherbs00mcvi/page/n161 160]}} Its stems are dark purple.{{cite web|last1=Lehnhardt|first1=Patricia|title=10 Basil Varieties and How to Use Them|url=http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crops-and-gardening/basil-varieties.aspx|website=Hobby Farms|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033020/http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crops-and-gardening/basil-varieties.aspx|url-status=dead}} Cinnamon basil grows to 18–30 inches tall.
Cultivation
Cinnamon basil is an easy-to-grow herb. It requires six to eight hours of bright sunlight per day. Although it is often grown as an annual, it is a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9–11. Cinnamon basil is sometimes planted near tomatoes and roses to discourage pests such as whiteflies.
Uses
Cinnamon basil is used in teas and baked goods such as cookies and pies. It is also used in pastas, salads, jellies, and vinegars. Outside the kitchen, cinnamon basil is used in dried arrangements and as a potpourri.
Space
Cinnamon basil was taken into space by the Space Shuttle Endeavour during STS-118 and grown in an experiment in low Earth orbit on the International Space Station.{{cite web|last1=Naik|first1=Nitin|title=A Plant Growth Chamber|url=http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/pgig003.html|website=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|access-date=5 April 2014|date=30 January 2008|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808173959/https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/pgig003.html|url-status=dead}}