scored 94/100
Also known as tulsi, ocimum tenuiflorum, ocimum sanctum, sacred basil
Holy basil, or tulsi, is a revered Ayurvedic adaptogen brewed as a daily tea, rich in eugenol and ursolic acid for stress and inflammation.
0.4 g net carbs after fiber.
Representative amounts for this food, not measured for this item. Real content varies widely by variety, ripeness and storage.
These are the scored components, not a sum: the published score also reflects normalisation across the catalog, so the parts above will not add to 94.
Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), known across India as tulsi, is a sacred aromatic herb of the mint family, revered in Ayurveda and grown in courtyards and temples throughout the subcontinent. Distinct from sweet culinary basil, it carries a warm, clove-like, peppery flavor and is most often brewed as a daily adaptogenic tea, alone or blended with ginger and green tea. Tulsi's reputation as a stress-balancing adaptogen rests on its bioactives: eugenol, an aromatic phenol with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action; ursolic acid, a triterpenoid linked to metabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits; and rosmarinic acid, a calming polyphenol. Clinical and traditional evidence supports its use for moderating the body's stress response and supporting mood and metabolic markers. The dried leaf concentrates vitamin K, calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium, though as a tea it is consumed in small amounts. Its enduring value is as a well-tolerated daily infusion that combines aromatic warmth with adaptogenic and antioxidant bioactives rather than as a significant source of macronutrients.
Adaptogenic compounds including ocimumosides and eugenol modulate cortisol and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, moderating the stress response in clinical trials
Eugenol and rosmarinic acid inhibit inflammatory signaling and scavenge free radicals
Ursolic acid and tulsi extracts have shown favorable effects on blood glucose and lipids in human studies
Tulsi is often taken as a morning or midday tea to help the body meet the day's stress.
Fasting-compatible
Brewed as tea it adds negligible calories and is fasting-compatible.
Per 100 g of the default form. Bars show how much higher or lower holy basil (tulsi) is than the average across 76 peer foods in this category. Green means a favorable direction; amber means the opposite.
Holy Basil (Tulsi) is classified as a herbs & spices. Holy basil, or tulsi, is a revered Ayurvedic adaptogen brewed as a daily tea, rich in eugenol and ursolic acid for stress and inflammation.
Holy Basil (Tulsi) scores 94/100 in Formulate, making it an exceptional choice. Its strongest contributions come from Vitamin K, Manganese, Iron. The score blends nutrient density, fiber, healthy fats, protein quality, bioactive compounds, and glycemic impact.
Not particularly. A 2 g serving provides about 0.3 g of protein (~1% of the 50 g daily value).
Not really. A 2 g serving provides about 0.6 g of fiber (~2% of the 28 g daily value).
In a 2 g serving, holy basil (tulsi) is highest in Vitamin K (~25% DV).
Yes — it fits comfortably in most keto plans. A 2 g serving has about 0.4 g of net carbs (1 g total minus 0.6 g fiber).
Best in the morning. Tulsi is often taken as a morning or midday tea to help the body meet the day's stress.
A typical serving is around 2 g (~6 kcal), based on the FDA's Reference Amount Customarily Consumed for this food category. There's no fixed daily target — most adults benefit from rotating holy basil (tulsi) alongside several other herbs & spices sources.
Holy Basil (Tulsi) pairs nicely with: Pair with ginger in a tea blend because its warmth complements tulsi's clove-pepper note and aids digestion; Combine with green tea because the two contribute layered antioxidant polyphenols; Use with honey and lemon because they round the herb's peppery edge in an infusion.
Encyclopedia entries that supply the same signature nutrients holy basil (tulsi) contributes. Click through to see clinical dose ranges, evidence quality, and bioavailable forms.
These are the nutrients holy basil (tulsi)contributes meaningfully toward (≥10% DV per 100 g serving). Click one to see what it does in the body, which supplements concentrate it, and which other foods are top sources.