What herb Turns water purple when boiled? Holy basil is best cooked (it can be bitter when raw), but purple basil is best raw as that pretty purple color turns black when cooked. Thai basil is stronger, with an anise flavor, while lemon and cinnamon basil are aptly named for the flavors they bring to the table.
Full Answer
How do you dye Basil purple?
The same basil, Ocimum basilicum, that flavors your salads can also produce a nice purplish-grey dye bath. Different types of basil can produce different shades. Gather the leaves and stems and boil with water to extract the color. One of the strongest purple dyes comes from blackberries.
Is purple basil the same as sweet basil?
As the name suggests, purple basil is a broad name used for basil plants that have purple basil leaves, instead of green leaves. Like typical sweet basil, purple basil plants make great culinary herbs and can be used wherever Genovese or sweet basil of a green hue might be used.
Does Basil lose its purple vibrancy over time?
And purple basils can lose their purple vibrancy over time. The immense variety that can occur in basil can be, at the same time, a blessing and a pain, but it can be very interesting to see what pops up when growing these plants from seed.
Can you grow purple basil from cuttings?
Purple basil is usually grown as an annual in temperate climes. But if you have purple basil you love, you can grow clones through cuttings so that you will have the plant in your garden again the following year. Harvest small quantities of leaves as required as soon as the plants are established.
Basil
The same basil, Ocimum basilicum, that flavors your salads can also produce a nice purplish-grey dye bath. Different types of basil can produce different shades. Gather the leaves and stems and boil with water to extract the color.
Blackberries
One of the strongest purple dyes comes from blackberries. Blackberries can be found in temperate regions of North and South America growing in sunny areas and often forming thickets. You can also find varieties cultivated for the home garden that have no thorns.
Cherry Tree Roots
A cherry tree is one of many plants in the Prunus family and produces a fleshy stone fruit. Cherries can be red, maroon or even yellow. But it is the roots of the cherry tree that will produce a purple dye. Whether the tree is a cultivated or wild variety, boil the roots with water to release the dye.
Dark Purple Iris Blooms
You can find iris blooming in every color of the rainbow. But, to achieve a purple dye you'll need the darkest purple iris blooms. One variety is even called "nearly black". Gather the blooms (fresh or dried) and use an alum mordant to achieve the dark bluish-purple dye.
Daylily Blooms
As with iris, you will need the darker red blooms of daylily varieties to extract a purple dye. Gather the day-old blooms after they have wilted. Boil with water to extract the dye.
Elderberry
Elderberry, Sambucus, is a small tree or shrub found in temperate and subtropical areas around the world. The ripe elderberries can be used to make wine, cordials, and to dye fabric. While the berries are quite dark, you will find that elderberries produce a lovely lavender dye when the juice is extracted.
Grapes
Want purple dye? Use purple grapes-the darker the better! Use the entire fruit with the skins, boiled with water, to create the dye bath.
