Invigorate your taste buds by making tea from fresh basil, which gives you a burst of fresh-from-the garden flavor and has many associated health benefits. Basil tea is said to promote oral health, relieve arthritis, boost immunity and treat headaches. The taste of this herb tea will vary depending on the type of basil you use and how long you steep your tea.
Select the freshest basil possible. If you aren't using it immediately, keep the plant or cuttings at room temperature; keep the stems or roots evenly moist, much as you would with fresh flowers.
Put a kettle or pot of water on the stove. Bring it to a boil over medium-high or high heat.
Separate the leaves you need to make the tea by snipping them away from the plant or stem with a sharp knife or scissors. Although you can make it stronger if desired, typically for every 1 cup of water you only need enough basil to make 2 tablespoons once it's chopped. The number of leaves necessary depends on the sizes of the leaves.
Wash the leaves thoroughly under a strong stream of water. Alternatively, use a food-grade vegetable wash, being careful to avoid bruising the tender leaves.
Pat the basil leaves dry and cut them into small pieces. One of the easiest ways to do so is to chiffonade the basil -- stack the leaves on top of one another, roll them, and then slice them into thin ribbons that can be cut into shorter pieces.
Place the cut basil into the bottom of a tea or coffee cup. Pour the boiling water over the leaves, and then cover the top of the cup with a saucer or lid.
Steep the fresh basil for 7 to 10 minutes. If you wish, strain the tea to remove the basil leaves from the bottom. Sweeten the tea with sugar, honey or agave to taste.