• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

We Count Carbs logo

  • RECIPES
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • RECIPES
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
×

Home » beverage ideas » Tulsi Tea

Tulsi Tea

By Sachi | Published Oct 21, 2021 | Updated Jan 16, 2022 | 14 Comments

Share
Pin
Tweet
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Tulsi, also known as "Holy Basil", is a type of mint that is lovely when brewed into an infusion. Drink this beverage hot or cold, with or without your favorite sweetener.

Total carbs 0g per cup, only 2g with honey

two frosted glasses of Iced Holy Basil or Tulsi Tea with lemon slices
Iced Holy Basil Tea is a refreshing drink on a hot day.

What Is Tulsi Tea?

Here's what Isabel from MEVO Fresh Roots Farm, the grower of the tulsi pictured here, has to say about it:

Tulsi is a medicinal plant originating in India and Southeast Asia with adaptogenic properties, used for thousands of years for all kinds of mental and physical ailments and for general wellness. Adaptogens are a special class of herbs/mushrooms that relieve stress in the body, the precursor to all disease. Tulsi is both enlivening and calming, usually prepared as a tea. For our bunch size, boil about 4 cups of water, turn off heat, and throw in the whole bunch of herbs. COVER tightly to capture all aromatic compounds, and steep for 10-20 minutes. Drink hot as is or let cool overnight and ice. Stir in sweetener while still warm if you wish. Iced Tulsi Tea & Honey are a match made in heaven. If you are taking medications, check if Tulsi is right for you.

Isabel
Hot Holy Basil or Tulsi Tea in a tea cup
Tulsi tea is delicious both hot and cold!

What Is Tulsi, aka "Holy Basil"?

Holy basil, (Ocimum tenuiflorum), also called tulsi or tulasi, flowering plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae) grown for its aromatic leaves. ... It is reminiscent of clove, Italian basil (Ocimum basilicum), and mint and has a peppery spiciness.

Encyclopædia Britannica Online
Tulsi leaves and blooms, also called Holy Basil.
Tulsi leaves and blooms, also called Holy Basil.

Tulsi Tea Flavor

What does tulsi tea taste like? It is a bit like grassy mint. It's refreshing with a bit of honey and lemon.

Ingredients in Tulsi Tea

  • A handful of fresh tulsi or a tablespoon of dried leaves.
  • Lemon and honey are optional. Adding a tablespoon of honey to 8 cups of tea, will yield 2 grams of carbs per cup of tea. You can decide if this is appropriate for your carb budget.
  • Alternatively you may sweeten your tea with your choice of a sugar substitute such as monk fruit or stevia.

How To Make Tulsi Tea

Tulsi tea is basically an herbal infusion.

Place herbs in a jar, teapot or mug.

Pour hot (just simmered) water over them.

Cover tightly to capture all aromatic compounds in the steam.

Let the herb steep between 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the strength you desire.

Strain. Strain the herbs from the tea with a strainer and compost them.

Steep tulsi leaves in hot water in a mason jar to make a tea.
Steep tulsi in hot water to make a tea.

Where To Buy Tulsi Tea

I got this beautiful bunch of fresh holy basil from MEVO Fresh Roots Farm. Since tulsi is a member of the mint family they are relatively easy to grow as an herb at home. Or you can buy dried leaves from the store.

Storing Tulsi Tea

Store in the fridge

You can store the tea in a covered jar in the fridge for up to a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tulsi good for? What are the benefits to drinking tulsi tea?


It is valued for its adaptogenic properties, meaning that it helps the body adapt to stress and boosts the immune system. It has a soothing and restorative effect. According to this article published in the National Library of Medicine:
u0022There is mounting evidence that tulsi can address physical, chemical, metabolic and psychological stress through a unique combination of pharmacological actions. Tulsi has also been shown to counter metabolic stress through normalization of blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid levels, and psychological stress through positive effects on memory and cognitive function and through its anxiolytic and anti-depressant properties.u0022

What are side effects to drinking tulsi tea?

While drinking tulsi in tea form is basically safe, eating tulsi leaves can cause side effects. The leaves are a potent source of eugenol, which can cause nausea, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat and convulsions.

Can you drink tulsi tea everyday?

According to Times of India you can drink it daily.

Is tulsi and basil the same?

No. While they share u0022basilu0022 as a common name, tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) belongs to a different plant family. Tulsi is actually a type of mint, a perennial herb.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
2 glasses of iced Tulsi Tea

Tulsi Tea


★★★★★

5 from 13 reviews

  • Author: Sachi
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 cups 1x
  • Diet: Diabetic
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Tulsi, also known as "Holy Basil", is a type of mint that is lovely when brewed into an infusion. Drink this beverage hot or cold, with or without your favorite sweetener.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 quarts (8 cups) of water
  • 1 handful of tulsi leaves
  • 1 tablespoon honey or your favorite low-carb sweetener (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place tulsi in a jar, teapot or mug.
  2. Pour hot (just simmered) water over them.
  3. Cover tightly.
  4. Let the herb steep between 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the strength you desire.
  5. Strain the herbs from the tea with a strainer.

Notes

Cover tightly to capture all aromatic compounds that rise in the steam.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5-20 minutes
  • Category: Beverage
  • Method: Brew
  • Cuisine: Indian

Keywords: tulsi, holy basil, mint, diabetic, low-carb, keto, healthy, herbal, tea, Ayurvedic

Did you make this recipe?

If you ate this recipe, please rate this recipe 😉

Click the stars at the top of this recipe card and leave a comment!

Then share the recipe on social media! Thank you 😀

@wecountcarbs  #wecountcarbs

Share
Pin
Tweet
« Spaghetti Squash Caprese
Simple roasted eggplant dip - baba ganoush (with or without tahini) »

About Sachi

What's cooking, carb counters?! I’m Sachi, I'm the carb counting recipe developer at We Count Carbs! Need help figuring out what to make for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner? Do you wish recipes came with carb counts and nutrition facts labels? You've come to the right place. We count carbs because carbs count!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cindy says

    October 21, 2021 at 8:55 pm

    Thanks I had never heard of this before!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Anne says

    October 22, 2021 at 2:25 am

    Very cool, sounds like a great mint flavored tea.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Mandy Applegate says

    October 22, 2021 at 9:30 am

    This was a new drink to me but I love it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Donna says

    October 22, 2021 at 9:46 am

    I like to think of myself as a bit of a tea connoisseur, but I have never heard of Tulsi tea before! So glad this introduced me to it, now a big fan!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    October 22, 2021 at 1:14 pm

    I love trying new things and this caught my eye! It's fabulous, and I love that it's a low-carb pick-me-up!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  6. Robin Donovan says

    October 22, 2021 at 1:19 pm

    I can't wait to try this!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Aimee says

    October 22, 2021 at 2:04 pm

    Easy and so good!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. laura says

    October 22, 2021 at 7:34 pm

    I'd never heard of it now I can't wait to make it!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  9. Linda says

    October 23, 2021 at 3:38 am

    What an interesting tea and it's so minty good!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  10. Kathy Hester says

    October 23, 2021 at 10:36 pm

    Tulsi tea is so good and my friend grew a ton of it. Thanks for the great recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  11. Lynn Polito says

    October 24, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    I love this recipe! It tastes amazing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  12. Sherry Ronning says

    October 25, 2021 at 3:30 pm

    This Tulsi tea hit the spot!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  13. Verónica says

    December 15, 2021 at 2:07 am

    As other mentioned above, I have never heard of this tea before. I will definitely try it . Great pictures, it looks delicious!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Sachi says

      December 15, 2021 at 2:11 pm

      Veronica, Thank you! Definitely give it a try! Holy Basil is a member of the mint family so it is more like a mellowed out mint tea 😀

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to We Count Carbs!

What's cooking, carb counters?!

Need help figuring out what to make for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner?

Do you wish recipes came with carb counts and nutrition facts labels?

You've come to the right place!

Why count carbs?

Carbohydrates have the greatest impact on your blood sugar.

Sticking to a carb budget helps you gain better control of your blood sugar.

We Count Carbs because carbs count! 

Hi, I'm Sachi!

We Count Carbs About Me Sachiko Goodyear Selfie

Recipes by carb count

  • Under 5 grams carbs
  • Under 15 grams carbs
  • Under 30 grams carbs

Latest Recipes

How to carve a turkey plated with herbs featured image

How to carve a turkey

Turkey brine roasted turkey featured image

Juicy turkey brine

Keto green bean casserole featured image

Keto green bean casserole

Keto stuffing featured image in pan with a spoonful of stuffing

Keto stuffing






Footer

↑ back to top

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use

Newsletter

  • Stay Connected! Sign Up to receive the latest recipes delivered directly to your inbox!

Information

  • Contact
  • About
  • Create Nutrition Labels

Copyright © 2023 We Count Carbs All Rights Reserved