In addition to its ornamental nature, all parts of the African Blue basil plant are edible, including the stems, flowers, and leaves, which are incorporated by home chefs into a wide array of culinary applications.
African blue basil plants are sterile, unable to produce seeds of their own, and can only be propagated by cuttings. This particular breed of basil has a strong camphor scent, inherited from Ocimum kilimandscharicum (camphor basil), its East African parent.
They can be used fresh or dried in cooking. They have a light anise flavor that complements fish dishes like Thai curries and soups like chicken noodle soup. You can even experiment using them in salad dressings, fruit salsas, ice cream sauces or as fresh garnish.
