How to Make Basil Tea with Fresh Leaves

Fresh herbs are great in salads, sides and pasta but you can also make tea with them. This sweet basil tea is wonderfully mild, herbaceous and soothing.

To make sweet basil tea with fresh leaves, simply steep them in boiling water for 30 minutes before straining, sweetening and serving either warm or cold.

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Ingredients for basil tea

For this simple tea, I used:

• sweet basil: there are so many types of basil that you can use to make tea like Thai basil and holy basil (also called tulsi). While these are great, you can use sweet basil as well. Be sure to use fresh, organic leaves where you can. Dried basil will also work for this recipe but you’ll need 1 to 2 teaspoons instead.
• water
• sweetener: if you like sweetened tea, then be sure to use a little honey or any of your favorite sweeteners here.

Equipment for this recipe

While no equipment is needed, I enjoy using my teapot with tea infuser. It’s great for steeping fresh herbs and clean up is so easy. Of course, you can use a regular teapot and strainer or anything you have available for making brews.

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How to make basil tea from fresh leaves

Step 1: Wash the basil leaves. Tear them into large pieces and add them to the tea infuser, teapot or teacup.

Step 2: Bring water to a boil using a kettle, saucepan or even the microwave. Pour boiling water over the torn basil leaves.

Step 3: Leave to steep for 30 minutes.

Step 4: Strain the tea. You can sweeten at this point with your desired sweetener like honey. Serve warm or allow it to cool, add ice and serve it as a refreshing, mild, herb tea.

Basil tea recipe

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Basil Tea with Fresh Leaves

Basil tea made with fresh sweet basil leaves has a mild, herbaceous taste that is pleasant and soothing. Steep this tea and serve it warm or cold as a refreshing, afternoon drink.

Prep Time2 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Steep Time30 minutes mins

Total Time37 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: basil tea, sweet basil tea

Servings: 2

Author: Ros Singh

Ingredients

• 6 g sweet basil leaves (2 tbsp or 8 large leaves)
• 2½ cups water

Instructions

• Bring water to a boil (using a kettle, saucepan, etc; approx. 5 minutes).
• Wash the basil leaves.
• Tear them into pieces.
• Add to tea infuser (or teacup).
• Pour boiling water over the leaves.
• Allow to steep for 30 minutes.
• Strain and sweeten if desired.
• Serve warm or cold.