[七層塔茶介紹]

    七層塔 (Ocimum gratissimum L.) 又名丁香羅勒、非洲羅勒，野生羅勒。原產於非洲，生長區域包含馬達加斯加，亞洲南部和夏威夷等熱帶地區 (Tropical region)。台灣則分布於低海拔和農地灌溉水道邊。其特徵為高約 80~120 公分的大型植株，味道兼具丁香及薄荷味，民間常用於烹調各式料理，可增添風味之功效。其抗氧化成份含有數種多酚及植物類黃酮，尤其葉子含量最高，是金線蓮的15倍，洛神花的100倍。
    Ocimum gratissimum L. is known as Clove Basil, African Basil, Wild Basil. This fragrant native African plant grows in tropical regions in Asia, Africa, and even on islands of the Pacific Ocean such as Hawaii. In Taiwan, they can be found growing in low-altitude regions and beside agricultural irrigation waterways. The large bush is around 80~120 cm tall and, due to its minty and clove-like smell, is commonly used as a culinary ingredient to enhance flavor and whet the appetite. The leaves of this particular species of basil is rich in antioxidant polyphenols and flavonoids with more than 15 times the concentration compared to Anoectochilus roxburghii and more than 100 times that compared to flower of Hibiscus sabdariffa, which are other favorite health-related plants in Taiwan.