Basil Facts

basil

Basil Facts

History

Basil is a beautiful herb that brings Italian dishes like pasta and pizza to life. In Italian culture, it is viewed as a sign of love and devotion between young couples. It is said that when a man brought a woman a sprig of basil, she would be sure to fall in love with him. While Italians definitely cherish this herb, it is important for many other cultures, too. In fact, basil gets its name from Greek word basilikohn, which means ‘royal’, reflecting that the ancient culture considered it sacred. In Hindu cultures, this herb is also sacred, and is believed by many to be a favorite of the gods, Krisha and Vishnu. One of the most popular herbs around the world, it is native to Asia and can be found growing wild in both tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world.

Culinary Uses

Basil’s fragrant aroma serves as the cornerstone for Italian dishes like tomato and pesto sauces. Best used fresh, the leaves are the perfect garnish for pasta and salad recipes. Thai basil adds a lovely licorice flavor to dishes such as green and red curries. Thai holy basil (or Tulsi) is used in stir-fries and as an herbal tea. With over 150 different types of species and varieties available, it is a diverse and delicious herb!

basil

Medicinal Uses

Once used as an insect repellent, basil is also known to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It reduces stress levels, protects the liver, and promotes healthy skin. Basil can also ease headaches and constipation. Eat the leaves fresh or brew a strong tea to take advantage of all of its benefits.

Tips for Growing

Basil is sensitive to frost and cold. If starting from seed, plant them indoors instead of risking that they’ll get damaged by frost. You can grow your basil indoors by a sunny window to have quick access to the leaves while cooking. If you choose to transplant the basil to a pot or a garden, make sure it has plenty of room to expand and grow. Once your plant is thriving, harvest the stems weekly to encourage greater leaf growth. Start your harvest today!

Andrea Abbate

Andrea Abbate is a recent graduate of Emory University with a degree in English and Sociology. She is passionate about combining her interests in writing and research to create positive environmental change. Currently backpacking throughout South America, she is working as a blogging intern with ForestNation.

I’m Andrew and I understand the struggle of nurturing relationships and business. That’s why I founded ForestNation, so awesome people like you can thrive. My passion for connecting people together and to our planet is what drives me.

Send Your 1st Gift Free!

Benefits you can expect

Inspire Loyalty with Unique Gifts

Leave a lasting impression with meaningful, eco-conscious presents. Powered by: 100s of premade templates and free design services.

Create Positive, Trackable Impact

Show measurable progress on sustainability goals. Powered by: Forest Profiles to track your impact and engagement.

Save Time with Effortless Gifting

Quickly launch campaigns or send gifts in under a minute. Powered by: Scheduling, bulk sending, and automations through API and webhooks.

Testimonials

Be seen doing things differently

“What we are perceiving the most is the positioning of the Solution Group brand as a supplier amongst our customers. We are stuck in their minds as the company who does things differently and that will make their purchasing more meaningful.”

Manuel Xueref

Create Positive, Trackable Impact

“Forest Nation aligns with the Westervelt mission of sustainable environmental investing. There is no other promotional product on the market that makes an impact in the way the Forest Nation does. Partnering with Forest Nation ensures that Westervelt is teaming with a company that shares in our goals of commercial and environmental sustainability.”

Sarah Correa

Be part of something bigger

“We really liked their concept ‘you plant one, we plant one’. It is a simple yet very effective campaign that allows us to be part of something bigger. This ties in well with our sustainability agenda and how we can do things concretely to mitigate our impact on the environment.”

Alexandra Leclerc

How it Works

Step 1: Get Your Proposal

Request a personalized proposal and we’ll prepare a visual online workspace with pricing and timeline for you. 

Step 2: We Do It All For You

Our expert gift creation team will help you create the best gift designs and messages to nurture the relationships most important to you. 

Step 3: Your Impact

Our growth and impact guarantees ensure that your gifts are creating real change. Our expert support and ongoing care ensure smooth gifting experiences with professional assistance.

What You Get

  • 100s of pre-made templates to customize
  • 100s of gift messages for all occasions
  • Create and send a gift in less than 1 minute
  • Media gallery of background videos and photos
  • Upload your own videos, photos, and gifs
  • Add up to 4 slides per gift
  • Style your gift message with text effects
  • Voice recorder to add your own voice
  • Plant any number of trees you want for the recipient
  • Trees planted in Tanzania to sequester carbon and create sustainable livelihoods
  • Schedule gifts to be sent for any future date
  • AI Gift message assistant
  • Personalized notification message
  • No shipping required
  • Custom branding and design service
  • Sending automations via CSV, API, and webhooks
  • Forest Profiles to track and post about your impact
  • Forest Profile for Community engagement
  • Forest Profile to plant more trees
  • We Plant Badge to promote your impact
  • Pay by credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer
  • SEED point credit system
  • Growth and Impact Guarantees
  • Expert support and ongoing care

Ready to get started?

What have you done for M.E. lately?

Come on, plant a free tree—she’s given you everything. It’s time to give a little love back to our Mother Earth. 🌱
Plant a Tree for M.E Free!