Basil Cinnamon
Cinnamon Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’)
A sweet, spicy basil with warm cinnamon‑anise notes — loved in teas, desserts, fruit dishes, and even used by some Thai cooks in curries and stir‑fries
🌿 Cinnamon Basil is a beautifully aromatic basil variety known for its sweet, spicy scent and distinctive cinnamon‑anise flavour. With its narrow green leaves, purple stems, and lavender‑pink flower spikes, it brings both colour and fragrance to the garden.
Although not a Thai basil botanically, many Thai cooks use Cinnamon Basil in place of Thai basil because its warm, sweet‑spicy aroma works beautifully in curries, noodle dishes, and fragrant stir‑fries. It’s also easier to grow in cooler climates, making it a practical and flavourful choice.
Heat‑loving, productive, and wonderfully aromatic, Cinnamon Basil is a delightful herb for both sweet and savoury summer cooking.
🌿 Leaves
The leaves have a sweet, warm, cinnamon‑anise flavour with a soft herbal freshness.
• Delicious in fruit salads, compotes, and summer desserts
• Lovely in herbal teas, iced drinks, and infused syrups
• Excellent with berries, peaches, and other soft fruits
• Beautiful in stir‑fries, noodle dishes, and light curries
• Works well with chicken, tofu, and mild vegetables
• A popular substitute for Thai basil among some Thai cooks
Leaf flavour: sweet, cinnamon‑anise, warm, aromatic, herbal
🌼 Flowers
The lavender‑pink flowers are edible and lightly sweet.
• Use as a garnish for desserts and salads
• Add to teas and cold drinks
• Highly attractive to bees and pollinators 🐝
Flower flavour: mild, sweet‑spicy
