Cinnamon basil

Cinnamon basil
Flowering cinnamon basil in late summer
Species	Ocimum basilicum
Cultivar	'Cinnamon'

Young cinnamon basil in late spring

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,^[1] and as a separate cultivar in its own right (i.e., O. basilicum 'Cinnamon').^[2][3][4] This article discusses the latter type.

Description

Cinnamon basil, also known as Mexican spice basil,^[5] has a spicy, fragrant aroma and flavor. It contains methyl cinnamate, the same chemical that gives cinnamon its flavor.^[6] 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.^[5][7][4][8] Its stems are dark purple.^[9] Cinnamon basil grows to 18–30 inches tall.^[3]

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.^[4]

Uses

Cinnamon basil is used in teas and baked goods such as cookies and pies.^[4][2] It is also used in pastas, salads, jellies, and vinegars.^[5][7] Outside the kitchen, cinnamon basil is used in dried arrangements and as a potpourri.^[7]

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.^[10]

References

1. ↑ Porter, Todd; Diane, Cu. "Victory Garden Herbs". White on Rice Couple. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
2. 1 2 Meyers, Michele (2003). Basil: An Herb Society of America Guide (PDF). The Herb Society of America. p. 32. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
3. 1 2 Jordi, Rebecca. "Basil". University of Florida Nassau County Extension. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
4. 1 2 3 4 Dyer, M.H. "Cinnamon Basil Plant". SFGate Home Guides. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
5. 1 2 3 "Basil". Sunland Herbs. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
6. ↑ Gernot Katzer. "Basil". Spice Pages. Retrieved 2012-12-02. 
7. 1 2 3 MacKenzie, Jill (October 2007). "Growing basil". University of Minnesota Extension. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
8. ↑ McVicar, Jekka (2010). Grow Herbs. London: DK Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 9780756664275. 
9. ↑ Lehnhardt, Patricia. "10 Basil Varieties and How to Use Them". Hobby Farms. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
10. ↑ Naik, Nitin (30 January 2008). "A Plant Growth Chamber". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 5 April 2014.