Ocimum basilicum
Cinnamon Basil or Mexican Spice Basil has a spicy, fragrant cinnamon aroma and flavour. It is used in baked goods such as cookies and pies, or in pasta, salads, jellies, and vinegar. It can also be used in tea blends. Cinnamon Basil leaves have a genuine cinnamon flavour and smell.
Sprouts in: 1 - 2 weeks
Harvest in: 5 - 12 weeks
- Cinnamon Basil is not heat sensitive and grows best at 18 - 30 °C / 64 - 86 °F.
- Cinnamon Basil likes to be cut! You can start trimming your plants in about one month after planting. You may remove single leaves occasionally. But, for more thriving growth, pinching off the whole tip is recommended - it will grow two new shoots in a week.
- Cutting and pruning your plant will also delay its flowering.
- When Basil starts to flower, the taste changes - for some people it will be too bitter. It is up to you - if you want to see your Basil flower and produce seeds, don’t cut your plant. If you like to keep using the leaves, cut the plant strongly back.
- Guide to pruning can be found here.
- Do notice that basil is an annual plant, and does not last forever. If your basil is older than 70 days, it has most likely reached the end of its life cycle and will need to be replaced.
