Ocimum basilicum

Basil

Highly prized for the intense fragrance of its leaves, basil is an aromatic plant grown in many tropical regions. In Guadeloupe, it grows year-round and comes in several varieties with sometimes surprising aromas, ranging from traditional sweet basil to lemon or cinnamon basil.

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Nos espèces

Lamiaceae

Basil

Nom scientifique :

Ocimum basilicum

Nom vernaculaire :

Basil

Carte d’identité
de l’espèce

Basil is an aromatic herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, like mint. Its branched stems bear highly fragrant leaves, the shape, size, color, and aroma of which can vary depending on the many cultivated varieties.

Famille :

Lamiaceae

Origine géographique :

Tropical regions of Africa and Asia

Taille :

30 to 100 cm

Floraison :

Varies depending on variety and growing conditions

Habitat :

Warm, bright environments with fertile, well-drained soil

Classe :

Magnoliopsida

Ordre :

Lamiales

Basil, a well-established herb in Guadeloupe

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is recognizable by its particularly aromatic foliage. Simply crushing its leaves slightly releases their essential oils and reveals their fragrance. This aromatic richness explains the important place the plant holds in cuisines around the world.

In Guadeloupe, basil is grown year-round. Several varieties are found locally, including lemon, cinnamon, sweet, and large-leaf basil. Each has a different aromatic profile, allowing for a variety of culinary uses. The leaves are mainly used fresh to flavor sauces, salads, marinades, and other dishes. They can also be used to make infusions.

When allowed to flower, basil develops small, generally white or slightly pink flowers arranged along upright spikes. They attract various pollinating insects. However, to encourage the production of new leaves, the flowering tops are often pinched off during cultivation.

At the Jardin de Valombreuse, basil offers a chance to discover the diversity of aromatic plants grown in the Caribbean climate. It belongs to the same botanical family as Mint, while its use in infusions links it to Lemongrass, another staple of Caribbean gardens and traditions.

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Turmeric

Known for the intense yellow color of its rhizome, turmeric is an aromatic tropical plant from the same family as ginger. Used as a spice and natural coloring agent, it also produces lush foliage and particularly decorative inflorescences.

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Ceylon Cinnamon

Ceylan Cinnamon is one of the oldest and most recognizable spices in the world. But before it becomes the fragrant sticks in our kitchens, it is the bark of a tropical tree: the cinnamon tree, cultivated for the powerful aromas contained within its young branches.

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Ginger

Known worldwide for its rhizome with a fresh, lemony, and spicy flavor, ginger is a tropical plant that has been cultivated as a spice for centuries. Beneath its slender foliage hides the most sought-after part of the plant: a fleshy and highly aromatic rhizome.

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