tulsi leaves

Table of Content
Also Known as
Indian basil, Holy basil
What are Tulsi leaves?
Tulsi, also known as the Indian basil or the holy basil, is often referred to in India as the Queen of Herbs.Considered a holy herb, it is grown in almost every Hindu household. Apart from being considered holy, tulsi is also revered as a great healer. Its leaves and roots are used in various medical decoctions, believed to soothe and heal the mind and body.
This aromatic plant, different from the pesto variety of basil, is native to India. It is an erect plant with branched sub-shrubs. The leaves are green coloured with a sharp aroma and flavour. Tulsi leaves are oval-shaped with a slightly sharp tip, and the edges are slightly toothed. Two main varieties of tulsi are grown in India – one with purple flowers and the other with greenish-brown coloured flowers.
How to Select Tulsi Leaves
• The leaves should look vibrant and green coloured, without any dark spots and patches.
• Avoid selecting leaves with holes, as it’s a sign of insect damage.
• These days, dried tulsi powder is also available in the market and can be conveniently used in a variety of recipes.
Culinary uses of Indian basil, tulsi leaves in Indian cooking
Tulsi has the anti-bacterial property which helps to relieve cold. It’s known to boost immune system and keep other diseases at bay. By maintaining the pH balance in the stomach it helps to ease acidity. Some phytochemicals in tulsi are known to protect against cancer too. Being an antioxidant it detoxifies the body as well.
The most effective time to have this Tulsi Water is early in the morning on an empty stomach. Make it a habit of consuming Tulsi Water for a healthy body free of stress, anxiety and depression.
Tulsi ka Kadha, a herbal tea with the goodness of tulsi leaves, lemongrass, ginger and gur works wonders with common cold and cough. This Tulsi ka Kadha is soothing and helps relieve congestion. A perfect home remedy in a cup for common cold and cough. You can sip on this kadha multiple times in a day, just store it and heat it before you want to drink it.
Tulsi Tea for weight loss. Tulsi leaves is a very refreshing herb. While Tulsi Water helps to reap all the benefits of this herb, Tulsi Tea is equally helpful. A warm cup of Tulsi Tea is one of the best herbal cuppa for a healthy YOU. The warm water in the tea helps to soothes the digestive system and boosts metabolism which aids in weight loss. On the other hand, the addition of lemon juice adds a dose of antioxidants which helps to reduce the body inflammation.
• Tulsi leaves are often used for their various medicinal properties.
• They can be added to a variety of juices and syrups.
• You can add zest to tea and herbal drinks by adding a few sprigs of tulsi.
• Enjoy a warm cup of invigorating tulsi tea by infusing chopped tulsi leaves in boiling water for eight minutes.
• It can be included in salads and desserts too.
How to Store Tulsi Leaves• Fresh tulsi leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for few days. Before refrigeration, clean and wrap them tightly in a plastic film or store in an air-tight container.
• It is best to use fresh leaves within a day or two after they have been plucked as they tend to wither and lose their aroma and flavour soon.
Health Benefits of Tulsi Leaves
•
• Tulsi leaves are packed with antioxidants and essential oils that produce eugenol, methyl eugenol and caryophyllene. Collectively these substances help the pancreatic beta cells to function properly. This in turn helps increase sensitivity to insulin, lowering one’s blood sugar and treating diabetes effectively.
• An added advantage is that the antioxidants present in the leaves help beat the ill effects of oxidative stress.
• Chewing a few leaves of tulsi on an empty stomach everyday can both prevent and protect against heart ailments.
• According to a study conducted by the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India, tulsi helps to maintain the stress hormone, cortisol, within normal limits.
• Being a great diuretic and detoxifier, tulsi leaves are good for the kidneys. Tulsi helps reduce uric acid levels in the blood, and also helps cleanse the kidneys. The presence of acetic acid and other components in its essential oils helps in breaking down kidney stones, while its analgesic effect helps dull down the pain of kidney stones.
Nutritive Information for Tulsi Leaves / Holy Basil:
1 cup of chopped tulsi / holy basil is about 20 grams
RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.
Energy - 5 calories
Protein – 0.6 g
Carbohydrate – 0.5 g
Fat – 0.1 g
Fiber – 0.3 g
Vitamins:
316.4 mcg of Vitamin A = 6.59% of RDA (about 4800 mcg)
3.6 mg of Vitamin C = 9% of RDA (about 40 mg)
13.6 mcg of Folate (Vitamin B9) = 13.6% of RDA (about 100 mcg)
83 mcg of Vitamin K = 69% of RDA (about 120 mcg)
Minerals:
35.4 mg of Calcium = 3.54% of RDA (about 1000 mg)
0.6 mg of Iron = 3% of RDA (about 20 mg)
3.65 mg of Magnesium = 8.5% of RDA (about 350 mg)
11.2 mg of Phosphorus = 1.8% of RDA (about 600 mg)
59 mg of Potassium = 1.25% of RDA (about 4700 mg)

chopped tulsi leaves
Strip the leaves from the stems. Clean, wash and pat these dry using a kitchen towel. Gather the leaves and, using a chef's knife, chop coarsely or finely as desired by the recipe.

Related Recipes
Fresh Herbal Tea, Tulsi, Mint And Ginger Drink For The Common Cold
Detox Tea ( Eat Welll Stay Well Recipes )
More recipes with this ingredient...

Related Glossary
Follow US
Recipe Categories
- Vitamin B12 Cobalamin Rich Recipes 33 recipes
- Low Calorie, Weight Loss Indian Recipes 421 recipes
- Low Cholesterol Indian Recipes 307 recipes
- Healthy Indian Breakfast 372 recipes
- Indian Diabetic recipes 558 recipes
- Indian Pregnancy recipes 461 recipes
- Zero Oil Indian Recipes 133 recipes
- Iron Rich Indian recipes 267 recipes
- Healthy Indian Acidity recipes 132 recipes
- Healthy Sabzis 108 recipes
- Indian Healthy Veg Snack 275 recipes
- Healthy Heart Recipes 415 recipes
- Healthy Veg Indian Soups 74 recipes
- Calcium Rich Indian Recipes 373 recipes
- High Blood Pressure Indian Recipes 100 recipes
- Healthy Indian Salads Recipes 137 recipes
- Low Carb Indian Diet, recipes 160 recipes
- Hypothyroidism Diet 59 recipes
- Arthritis Diet 68 recipes
- Vitamin K Diet 41 recipes
- High Protein Indian recipes 93 recipes
- Fatty Liver Diet 30 recipes
- PCOS 131 recipes
- Gluten Free Veg Indian 193 recipes
- High Fiber 328 recipes
- Indian Cancer Patients 275 recipes
- Jaundice Diet 45 recipes
- Sprouts 61 recipes
- Typhoid 43 recipes
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) 20 recipes
- Kidney Stone Diet 9 recipes
- Home Remedies 213 recipes
- Senior Citizen 195 recipes
- Diet for Dialysis 10 recipes
- Healthy Indian Drinks and Juices 212 recipes
- Gout Indian Recipes 17 recipes
- Potassium Rich 80 recipes
- Vegan 194 recipes
- Forever Young Diet, Anti Aging Indian Diet 255 recipes
- Indian recipes to treat Vomiting 7 recipes
- High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids 31 recipes
- Zinc Rich Foods 55 recipes
- Malaria Diet 17 recipes
- Vitamin B1 Rich Indian Foods, Recipes 101 recipes
- Vitamin A Rich, Beta Carotene, Retinol 87 recipes
- Antioxidant Rich Indian 445 recipes
- Low Veg Glycemic Index 86 recipes
- Lower Blood Pressure Salads 7 recipes
- Healthy Indian Dinner 85 recipes
- Magnesium Rich 94 recipes
- Vitamin C Rich Indian recipes 118 recipes
- Healthy Indian Lunch Recipes 29 recipes
- Lactation 25 recipes
- Hyperthyroidism Diet 46 recipes
- Vitamin B3, Niacin Rich 41 recipes
- Vitamin E Rich 50 recipes
- Post Surgery Diet 42 recipes
- Lower Blood Pressure Desserts Sweets 14 recipes
- Selenium 27 recipes
- Phosphorus Rich Indian Recipes, Foods 74 recipes
- Copper 15 recipes
- Foods Rich in Vitamin B2 Riboflavin 22 recipes
- Vitamin B6 Diet 36 recipes
- Vitamin B9 Rich Folate 50 recipes
- B Vitamins 231 recipes
- Manganese Diet 32 recipes
- Thalassemia 18 recipes
- Marathoners, Endurance Athletes, Triathlete 225 recipes
- Detox Water, Fruit Infused Water 42 recipes
- Lactose Free Dairy Free 22 recipes
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids 32 recipes
- Phytonutrients 51 recipes
- Chronic Kidney Disease Indian recipes 12 recipes
- Selenium1 0 recipes
- Quick Snacks / Quick Starters 385 recipes
- Quick Breakfast Indian 132 recipes
- Quick Sabzis 117 recipes
- Quick Rotis / Parathas 46 recipes
- Quick Indian Sweets 139 recipes
- Quick Stir-Fries 51 recipes
- Quick Vegetarian Indian Soups 72 recipes
- Quick Chutneys 67 recipes
- Quick Vegetarian Rice, khichdi Recipes 56 recipes
- Indian snacks under 10 minutes 44 recipes
- Quick Indian Dips, Gravies & Sauces 103 recipes
- Quick Veg Indian Pizza 17 recipes
- Quick Veg Pasta 25 recipes
- Quick Pickles / Aachar 25 recipes
- Quick Dals / quick Kadhis 29 recipes
- Snacks under 5 minutes 33 recipes
- Quick Healthy Recipes 43 recipes
- Quick Pressure Cooker 46 recipes
- Quick Desserts 48 recipes
- Quick 3 Ingredients 63 recipes
- Quick Indian Desserts 17 recipes
- Quick 4 Ingredients 41 recipes
- Quick 5 Ingredients 41 recipes
- Kids Tiffin Box 318 recipes
- Recipes for Toddlers (1-3 Years) 31 recipes
- Sweet Recipes for Kids 453 recipes
- Recipes for Baby (10 to 12 Months) 14 recipes
- Quick Indian recipes for Kids 72 recipes
- Indian Breakfast Recipes for Kids 192 recipes
- Recipes for Weaning (8 to 9 months) 20 recipes
- Healthy Foods for Kids 194 recipes
- Snack Recipes for Kids 619 recipes
- Recipes Kids can make 36 recipes
- Kids After School 794 recipes
- Kids Jar Snacks 66 recipes
- Finger Foods for Babies, Toddlers and Kids 76 recipes
- Kids Weight Gain 43 recipes
- Kids Wraps and Rolls 23 recipes
- Kids Veg Pasta 27 recipes
- Kids Brain Boosting 68 recipes
- Protein rich food for kids 69 recipes
- Recipes for Weaning 13 recipes
- Kids Pizzas 30 recipes
- Babies, Toddler and Kids Iron Rich Foods 31 recipes
- High Fiber Foods for Kids 39 recipes
- Kids Noodles 37 recipes
- Kids High Energy Indian Foods 103 recipes
- Kids Calcium Rich Indian recipes 91 recipes
- Kids Recipes for Increasing Immunity 10 recipes
- Babies recipes, 6 to 18 months 31 recipes
- Kids Weight Loss 58 recipes
- Teething Recipes for Babies 10 recipes
- Cereals and Pulses for 8 to 9 months Baby 5 recipes
- Weaning foods at 7 months 8 recipes
- Indian Teen 315 recipes
- Starters / Snacks 2136 recipes
- Indian Breakfast Recipes 819 recipes
- Main Course Recipes 925 recipes
- Indian Salads 385 recipes
- Indian Desserts , Sweets 985 recipes
- Indian Soups 249 recipes
- Indian Beverages, Indian Drinks 483 recipes
- Indian Dinner 903 recipes
- Indian Dinner1 0 recipes
- Indian Lunch 830 recipes
- Side Dishes 449 recipes
- Indian Travel Food 433 recipes
- Indian Barbeque1 recipes 22 recipes
- Frozen Foods, Indian Freezer Recipes 67 recipes
- Whole Wheat Recipes 56 recipes
- Indian Comfort Foods 212 recipes
- Dinner Menus 56 recipes
- Easy Indian Veg 70 recipes
- Innovative Indian Recipes 27 recipes
- No Cook Indian 37 recipes
- Advanced Recipes 10 recipes
- Cakes with Eggs 13 recipes
- Microwave 230 recipes
- Oven 619 recipes
- Indian Steamer Recipes 102 recipes
- Kadai Veg 406 recipes
- Indian Barbeque Recipes 42 recipes
- Sizzler tray 15 recipes
- Mixer 566 recipes
- Pressure Cooker 315 recipes
- Tava 646 recipes
- Non-stick Pan 1394 recipes
- Appe Mould 17 recipes
- Pan 223 recipes
- Indian Freezer recipes, meals 56 recipes
- Deep Pan 148 recipes
- Non Stick Kadai Veg 203 recipes
- Refrigerator 176 recipes
- Waffle Indian recipes 6 recipes
- Handi 12 recipes
- Juicer and Hopper 64 recipes
- Grill 30 recipes
- Toaster 21 recipes
- Gas Toaster 7 recipes
- Steam 72 recipes
- No Cooking Veg Indian 335 recipes
- Vegetarian baked Indian recipes 380 recipes
- Boiled Indian recipes 129 recipes
- Deep Fry 259 recipes
- Indian Tawa 266 recipes
- Shallow Fry Indian 25 recipes
- Microwave1 173 recipes
- Saute 274 recipes
- Indian Pressure Cooker 171 recipes
- Stir-fry 100 recipes
- Roasting 0 recipes
