Everlasting Basil

Turn one supermarket basil plant…

…into all these!

Then make yourself a delicious Stoots Basil Smash

🌱🌱🍹

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Split up a supermarket basil plant (this will work for other supermarket herbs as well)
2. Carefully replant into individual pots
3. Harvest leaves from the tops to encourage bushy growth
4. Water in the morning (they don’t like having wet roots at night!)

For more information on growing basil visit the RHS

STOOTS BASIL SMASH

Stoots Basil Smash

The Basil Smash is quite a famous cocktail (I didn’t make it up!)

1. Smash a handful of basil leaves with 1 tbs caster sugar (I don’t have a pestle and mortar so I just use a wooden spoon and sturdy glass!)
2. Add a glug of vodka or gin
3. Add the juice of half a fresh lemon
4. Pop in some ice
5. Cheers! 🍸

And apparently the basil in your drink could also be giving you many, many additional benefits….

• Reduce memory loss associated with stress and ageing
• Reduce depression related to chronic stress
• Reduce stroke damage and support recovery, whether given before or right after a stroke
• Improve fasting blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides
• Reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension
• Relax blood vessels and thin your blood, similar to aspirin
• Protect against aspirin’s damage to your gut, particularly preventing ulcers
• Prevent certain cancers, including of the breast, colon and pancreas
• Increase mental alertness when inhaled as aromatherapy
• Inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause dental decay
• Improve food safety if integrated into food packaging by manufacturers
• Provide an alternative to antibiotics for infectious diseases, including combating antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria
• Repel insects, such as mosquitos and ticks

Healthline