While at the Farmer's Market this morning, I was browsing the booth for Shambani Organics. I usually buy from them every year, a few herbs, a cucumber, lettuce, etc. Today I picked up a Eritrean Basil plant. A lovely basil with purple tinged leaves and beautiful purple flowers. It has small leaves, which are spicy and very earthy. This is a new basil for me so I am looking forward to playing with it. Shambani is an interesting nursery about 45 minutes east of Redding in the foothills. It is owned and operated by a man and wife. They do all the work for the nursery themselves, grow everything they sell and are very fussy. There is one Redding nursery that I know of which sells their product, and I was told it is a pain to offer their line. Their plants must not be mixed with others or touch other plants. They must be watered with pure, filtered water....not City water. Shambani grows heirloom plants, with very unusual names. My luck with them has been less than expected as it seems once I get the plants home, they hate my growing conditions. the weather, or perhaps the City water. I made a marinated bean dish this morning and threw in the basil leaves from the stem of the flowers I pinched off. Loved the aroma.
Has anyone grown this type of basil?