Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum or Ocimum sanctum) is an aromatic shrub in the Lamiaceae basil plant family. It’s thought to have originated in north central India and now grows throughout the Eastern world.

Also known as tulsi, which means “the incomparable one” in Hindu, the holy basil plant is a perennial that has a light lemon scent and purple-pink flowers.

Holy basil/tulsi is one of the most common houseplants in India. Extracts, oils and supplements can also be made from holy basil seeds, leaves, flowers and stems.

The holy basil leaf, an oval-shaped leaf with a slightly sharp tip used to make tulsi tea, is where the majority of the plant’s healing compounds are found.

There are two common types of tulsi: Rama tulsi, which is white and green, and Shyam tulsi, which is dark pinkish-purple. Other types of tulsi include Krishna tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) and Vana tulsi (Ocimum gratissum).