12 Best Types of Basil in India | Different Types of Tulsi

Here are some of the best Types of Basil in India that you can grow in your herb garden to add a bit of variety! They also look beautiful!

Basil or Tulsi is hallowed for its medicinal, spiritual, and culinary significance. But, do you know, there are many Types of Basil in India that you can grow apart from the Holy Basil? Let’s have a look!

Here’s all you need to know about growing Basil in India

Best Types of Basil in India

1. Rama Tulsi

Botanical Name: Ocimum sanctum

Rama Tulsi is known as the most aromatic and medicinal basil among all. It has a purple stem and bears aromatic, dainty purple flowers. This herb has a clove-like fragrance with a mellow and cooling flavor.

2. Holy Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum tenuiflorum

This is one of the most common basil found in every Indian yard. Holy basil has a sweet and musky flavor. Holy basil consumption is said to relieve stomach and kidney ailments and also promote blood circulation.

3. Purple Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum ‘Purple Ruffles’

The purple basil exudes a clove-like aroma with a slightly fresh and pungent taste. This basil is extensively used for salad seasoning, and for preserving vinegar and oils.

4. Cinnamon Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’

This Tulasi plant can grow up to 2-3 feet tall and wide. It features green leaves with slightly serrated margins. The stems are purple to violet-hued and bear lavender spiked flowers.

5. Lemon Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum × citriodorum

Lemon basil produces white flowers from summers to late fall. Leaves are elongated to oval in shape and are smooth, and green with slightly serrated edging.

6. Greek Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum var. minimum ‘Greek’

Greek basil has compact, upright, and columnar growth habits. This basil has a delightfully refreshing taste that finds significant uses for seasoning numerous culinary dishes, salads, and vinegar.

7. African Blue Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum ‘Dark Opal’

African blue basil is a hybrid cross between camphor basil and dark opal basil. The leaves of African blue basil are crispy, musky, and exude some earthy notes.

8. Vana Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum gratissum

This aromatic Tulsi is indigenous to India, Sri Lanka, Java, and the northern and eastern parts of Africa. It features green leaves with a hairy texture and has a spicy to pungent flavor with a clove-like fragrance.

9. Cardinal Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum ‘Cardinal’

The bunch of red flowers growing at top of the plant makes this Tulasi variety stand out. Apart from an ornamental plant, its spicy flavor makes it a great candidate for several oily dishes.

10. Ararat Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum ‘Ararat’

Unlike other basil leaves, its leaves are mottled with purple and green splashes. Native to Israel, this basil grows throughout the year and is quite rare to find.

11. Spicy Globe Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum ‘Spicy Globe’

Its short and compact mound of rounded leaves looks quite charming. And, as the name suggests, this basil type has a quite spicy tang that gives imparts savory flavor to the pesto and pasta dishes.

12. Lettuce Leaf Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum ‘Crispum’

Lettuce basil features large leaves with a crinkled texture that is reminiscent of the lettuce leaves. The leaves are mildly sweet and less pungent and peppery flavor, hence is great for salads and stuffings.