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Dark Opal Basil Ocimum Basilicum Purpurascens Seeds
Packet of 100+ home grown organic seeds!
This easily recognisable variety of purple basil is just what you need for a splash of colour.
It livens up salads with its deep glossy leaves, and it does just as good a job in the garden.
You could grow it as an ornamental alone and it makes a great contrasting plant for planting near taller messier looking plants like tomatoes and beans.
The tight mass of shiny purple leaves in an even hedge around the base sort of frames the picture if you know what I mean.
Repels caterpillars at the same time which is a bonus.
Not only does it look cool, it grows easily, produces masses of leaves and tastes as good as any of the the more common basil’s too.
We use a lot on pizzas and breads like focaccia, and a handful just ripped up and chucked in right at the end of a basic tomato based pasta sauce tastes and looks fantastic!
Added to vinegars and dressings it colours them up nicely, and the naturally occurring anthocyanins which give it the bold purple colour are showing promise as “anti-cancer” chemicals.
It contains about 18 mg for every 100g fresh leaves and this is far higher than any other basil that I am aware of(more than double most others).
So high that it is even considered a great candidate for manufacturing of red dye.
It is also said to such as improve digestion, treat nausea, headache and some types of migraine, as a mild muscle relaxant, externally as a treatment for acne, insect bites, and to prevent minor skin infections from cuts and scrapes.
I would agree with all of that, though most folks consider it just another delicious culinary herb which I definitely agree with too!
This fella is botanically known as Ocimum basilicum purpurascens and most folks call it Dark Opal or even just Purple basil.
It’s been in circulation since the 50’s and in 1962 it was the winner of the All-American Selection award and I personally reckon it’s a great addition to any herb garden.
Grown by me and the Mrs organically, no chems, no nasties, no problems!!!
