If you have a basil plant and it has flowers, do not throw them away because you can use them in different ways. Below we show you everything.

Basil is one of the most loved and used aromatic herbs . Its aroma and flavour are truly unique and almost everyone loves it. It completes many dishes and gives them that extra touch that cannot be missed. Precisely because of its wide use, people often decide to plant it close to home.

Whether you have a vegetable garden or a simple balcony, just place a pot and start growing. This way you will always have it at hand and you won’t have to ask your greengrocer. It will always be fresh and taking care of it is really simple. Just take a few small precautions and you’re good to go.

What you don’t know, however, is that  you don’t have to throw away basil flowers . In fact, even these are edible and you recognize them because they are similar to ears, just a little smaller and thinner. They grow and are usually cut and thrown away. Now let’s show you why you absolutely should not throw them away.

Do not throw away basil flowers

As we have just said,  basil has spikelets on each stem where there are small white flowers . These are usually cut when they reach a few centimeters. In fact, cutting will allow the stem to grow and, consequently, have more basil leaves.

Some of these spikelets, however, you can grow up to a maximum of 10/15 centimeters to be able to use them in the kitchen and beyond. When they have reached this length you can proceed to cut them but be careful because they are  not consumed as well as the leaves and must first be dried .

So the spikelets are edible but they need to be dried first. Once they reach a decent length you can  separate them from the basil plant which will continue to grow even more and you can put them in the sun for several hours . Be careful that there is no wind, otherwise the spikelets will fly away.

Once they are dry it will take about 48 hours, you can use them in different ways. However , we recommend putting this herb in a jar with a lid  to ensure it retains its aroma. But let’s see how to use them in a very simple way below.

Basil Vinegar: Here’s How

You can make a basil-infused vinegar from dried spikelets   by simply pouring the dried spikelets into a bottle. Let everything infuse for about 7 days and then filter the mixture. Here you will have obtained a basil vinegar in a very simple way without going to the supermarket.

Create a seedling

Basil spikelets can also be used to propagate basil and  give birth to a new seedling. In this case, it is advisable to dry the spikelets directly on the plant. Once they have been rubbed, they should be placed in soft soil mixed with sand. These should always be moist and exposed to the sun.

If you do this in spring or summer the result is guaranteed.  After a few weeks you will see the first leaves appear  and slowly the plant will begin to grow. These are just a few methods to use basil differently and you should at least try it.