What is Holy Basil Krishna?

Holy Basil Krishna is the dried Krishna variety of Ocimum tenuiflorum (formerly Ocimum sanctum), the dark-leaved cultivar of the plant called Tulsi in Sanskrit. It is a small flowering shrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae).

About the plant

Native to the Indian subcontinent, Holy Basil has been venerated in Hindu tradition for millennia and is one of the most sacred plants in Hindu households, as well as a long-documented herb of Ayurveda with a traditional classification as a rasayana. The Krishna cultivar is prized for its dark purple-green foliage. Its studied compounds include eugenol, ursolic acid, and rosmarinic acid.

Related herbs

• Ashwagandha Powder — another herb documented in Ayurvedic tradition.

Holy Basil Krishna: form & sizes

We carry Holy Basil Krishna as organic cut and sifted dried leaf, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Holy Basil Krishna in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Holy Basil Krishna at a glance

Botanical name

Ocimum tenuiflorum

Family

Lamiaceae

Native region

the Indian subcontinent

Plant part

aerial parts

Sourcing

Organic

Sanskrit name

Tulsi ('the incomparable one')

Cultivar

Krishna (dark-leaved)

Form

cut and sifted dried leaf

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb