This drink is an ultimate refresher, and is great for cooling you down in the summer heat. Basil can be used for more than just pesto and is a common juice ingredient in southeast Asia. In fact, basil tea and basil seed juice can be purchased in bottles, at most corner stores here in Indonesia. 

When sugar is added, the leaf is transformed from a typically savoury, European ingredient to an unexpected and surprising tropical curiosity!

I first encountered basil juice in a night market in Vancouver, and later in Bali in a vegan warung (Indonesian snack stand) and have been making this juice frequently ever since. This is a simple recipe which requires few ingredients plus a blender.

For 4 servings

• 1 small pineapple
• Handful of basil leaves
• Sugar (to taste)
• 1L Filtered water

1.) Peel the pineapple, remove the leaves and tough core. Chop the fruit into small chunks and add to the blender.

2.) Wash the basil leaves, and add to the blender along with water and sugar.

*Image courtesy Flickr creative commons.

3) Blend Blend Blend! Blend the mixture for a minute or so.

4) Pour into a glass and drink!