Botanists refer to lime basil as a cousin of lemon basil. Lime basil is primarily an edible plant grown for culinary purposes, although lime basil also has ornamental merit. Lime basil usually grows up to 20 inches tall with small white flowers in the sea of small, pointy lime green leaves during summer.
Classification Information:
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Ocimum
Species: O. americanum ‘lime’
Lime Basil Trivia
- There are products sold in the market that read “lime basil” but most of them (if not all) are made using lime and basil and not the lime basil cultivar.
- Lime basil is a citrus basil plant, similar to lemon basil and Mrs. Burns’ basil which is considered as the combination of lemon basil and lime basil.
- Lime basil is more heat-tolerant than sweet basil.
- Wild lime basil grows naturally in areas like teak forests, fields, and road verges.
Lime Basil Buying Guide
If you need lime basil specifically, make sure to check the label so that you don’t end up with lemon basil instead of lime basil. Ask the vendor for assistance if you are unsure. Freshly-cut and freshly-packaged lime basil are sold in the market or the produce section of the grocery in a sealed transparent clamshell plastic container. Local growers may also sell freshly harvested lime basil in farmers markets, packed or loose. Dried and powdered lime basil come in plastic or glass bottles, or a plastic pack. You’ll find lime basil seeds sold in plastic packaging too.
Lime Basil Production & Farming in Texas
Lime basil is not a difficult plant to grow. You can grow lime basil from a pot or container. You can also plant it in the garden plot. If you have a place indoors that received sufficient sunlight, then you can even grow a lime basil plant indoors. Lime basil is a perennial in USDA Zones 9 to 11. The minimum amount of sunlight per day is six hours. Lime basil requires well-draining soil with a pH of 6.5. Avoid watering the leaves to prevent diseases. Avoid using sprinklers and instead, use hose and water at the base.
Lime basil is grown in Texas. If you are looking for your regular supply of lime basil for your restaurant business or home-cooked food, it is best to support your local growers and source your lime basil from local farmers/growers, and there are several here in Texas.
Pesticides:
Common lime basil pests include Japanese beetles, slugs, and aphids.
- Aphids – Kills aphids destroying your spearmint using neem oil, insecticidal soap, or horticultural oil. You can also use the pesticide malathion, which is the most commonly used organophosphate insecticide in the United States, or rotenone, a selective, non-specific insecticide typically used in home gardens for insect control. Apply through foliar spraying.
- Japanese beetle – The effective pest control method against this pest is to use pyrethrin, which is a combination of six chemicals (pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, cinerin I, cinerin II, jasmolin I, and jasmolin II). An organic version of pyrethrin involves the use of chrysanthemum flowers. When using pyrethrin, make sure to mix 7.5 to 15 oz of concentrate in 5 gallons of water and apply enough to cover the upper and lower leaf surfaces.
- Slugs – The use of slug bait or a copper tape is an effective pest-control method against slugs.
Geography:
Lime basil is common in Thailand where it originated. Lime basil is widely cultivated in tropical Asian countries as well as in tropical African countries.
Packaging:
Freshly-cut and freshly-packaged lime basil are sold in the market or the produce section of the grocery in a sealed transparent clamshell plastic container. Dried and powdered lime basil come in plastic or glass bottles, or a plastic pack. You’ll find lime basil seeds sold in plastic packaging too.
Enjoying Lime Basil
Lime basil has a zesty flavor. When you eat it fresh, you can smell the herb’s sweet, citrusy aroma. This is why it is a great ingredient of fresh vegetable salad. Another way to enjoy lime basil is by making an iced tea drink from this herb, a cold beverage that pairs well with different kinds of foods.
Storage:
Put lime basil inside a plastic bag or wrap it in a paper cloth or towel before putting it inside the refrigerator. Use a freezer bag if you want to freeze it. A third option is filling ice cube trays with water and cut lime basil leaves.
You can dry lime basil too. Use the microwave to flash-dry the leaves (start by heating it for 20 seconds and adjust accordingly depending on how the drying is turning out). Once it is brittle, you can crush it and put it inside an herb bottle or any container with a lid. Store somewhere cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight. If you don’t have a microwave, try using a drying screen and place this in a warm, dry room to allow it to completely dry.
Cooking:
Lime basil is a great herb to use when cooking chicken or fish. Lime basil is great for making sauces too. Lime basil is a common ingredient in Thai cooking.
Nutritional Benefits:
Lime basil has lots of vitamin K (which is good for those dealing with inflammations), vitamins A, and vitamin C. It has calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, and folate. It also has omega-3 fatty acids which help in keeping our eyes and brain healthy.
