Recipes · Tonic
Tulsi (Holy Basil) Tea
Reader ratingsA fragrant, clove-scented tea of fresh or dried tulsi leaves, the sacred basil of Ayurveda, steeped with ginger and a squeeze of lemon.
Tulsi, or holy basil, is sacred in Hindu tradition and has been brewed as a daily tea in India for centuries.
Safety
- Animal studies using high doses of tulsi extracts found reduced fertility and lower thyroid hormone (thyroxine); human data are lacking. Avoid it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, and ask your clinician first if you have a thyroid condition.
- Small human studies report that tulsi lowered blood glucose. If you take diabetes medicines, monitor your levels when you start drinking it regularly.
- If you add honey, never give it to babies under 12 months, because of the risk of infant botulism.
Why it’s good for you
A caffeine-free tea with a clove-like, peppery-sweet aroma that many people find calming to sip.
Evidence
Limited evidence
Mostly small, early, or laboratory studies.
A 2017 systematic review located 24 human studies of tulsi, all reporting favorable results, though they were mostly small. The better-controlled trials used standardized leaf extracts rather than tea: in an 8-week trial of 100 adults under stress, tulsi extract lowered perceived-stress scores and improved sleep scores compared with placebo, and a 6-week trial of 150 people reported fewer stress symptoms. Brewed tulsi tea has not been tested in a controlled trial.
General information from research and traditional use — not medical advice, and not a treatment for any condition. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, check with your clinician first, and seek care for symptoms that are severe or do not improve.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil with the ginger slices and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Gently bruise the tulsi leaves, then take the pot off the heat and add them. Cover and steep for 7 to 10 minutes.
- Strain into two mugs and stir in the lemon and honey, if using. Serve hot, or chill and pour over ice.
Tips
- Tulsi comes in several types. Rama tulsi is the mildest and sweetest, Krishna (purple) tulsi is more peppery, and Vana tulsi has a lemony note.
- Fresh tulsi is easy to grow in a sunny pot. Pinch off the flower buds to keep the plant producing leaves.
- Dried tulsi should still smell clove-like and peppery. If it smells like dust, it is old.
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