Some plants in the garden produce edible flowers. We just don't know it most of the time. There's nothing wrong with just admiring them. But when it comes to an herb as aromatic as basil, curiosity is high. Can you top the taste experience of the leaves?
Are basil flowers edible?
The flowers of the basil are edible and can be used as a spicy ingredient in the kitchen. They have a tart flavor that differs from the milder leaves and can also be pickled in vinegar.
Are the flowers of this herb edible?
Even with optimal care, the perennial shrub basil blooms more modestly than other types of basil. But he also produces some beautiful lip blossoms every year from early summer to autumn. Depending on the variety, they are white, pink or purple.
The green leaves of the bush basil are edible and have an intense aroma. There is no need to say more about it, as this herb has long been popular as a spicy cooking ingredient. The flowers are also edible, but not many people know this. They therefore receive less attention in the kitchen.
The bitter aroma of the flowers
The taste of the flowers is described as bitter. This clearly distinguishes them from the rather mild leaves. The bitter note of the flowers is not equally popular with every connoisseur. That's why these flowers are less likely to be used in the kitchen.
The more blossomed the flowers are, the firmer or harder they become. Therefore, use delicate flowers in the bud stage or those that have just bloomed.
Tip
Place a few freshly opened basil flowers in vinegar, which they will add an interesting spicy note over time. It can then be used for salad dressings.
Not your taste?
If you don't like the bitter taste, you can admire the flowers on the plant or use them to decorate dishes. If your plant is not a hybrid variety, you can leave the flowers on the bush until the seeds have matured. You can use this to propagate new plants in the spring if necessary.
Avoid flowering
If you have no use for edible basil flowers, you should cut off the flower buds as early as possible. This is the explanation:
- Flower formation consumes energy
- New leaf growth stops during this time
- therefore there is less to harvest
If the shrub is large and beautifully branched, it will also have plenty of green leaves. In this case, you can also decide to leave the flowers on the plant as a visual highlight.
