Basil seeds

Ocimum basilicum

nuts & seeds

Small, black, oblong basil seeds; soaked, they wrap themselves in a jelly-like coat, like chia. They provide mucilage.

Origin

India and Southeast Asia

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

They gel faster than chia: 10 to 15 minutes in eight times their volume of water is enough, and the translucent coat is visible when they are ready. Past an hour they turn soft and lose their bite.

Did you know?

They are drunk in desserts and cold drinks from India to Southeast Asia: falooda, Iranian sharbat-e-rihan, Vietnamese hột é, Malaysian ais kacang.