Green Pepper Basil

(Hoja de cólico) Stunning combination of green peppers and basil! Unusual basil from Chiapas, in southern Mexico. Tea made from the leaves is a popular remedy for stomachache, colic, abdominal distension and diarrhea. Its powerful antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties help to explain why this traditional Mayan remedy is still widely used today. Also effective as a mosquito repellent. In the kitchen its green pepper flavour and aroma offer exciting possibilities. Fresh chopped leaves work well in soups and salads, on cheese and crackers, on scrambled eggs, and in sandwiches. Grows best in part shade; too much sun can make the leaves tough and inedible.