Can you eat Mrs. Burns lemon basil?: A Culinary and Nutritional Guide

November 1, 2025 •

4 min read

With its origins tracing back to a New Mexico garden in the 1920s, the heirloom variety Mrs. Burns lemon basil is not only edible but also cherished by chefs for its potent citrus flavor and vigorous growth. This guide explores everything you need to know about cooking with this unique herb, from its culinary uses to its nutritional benefits.

Quick Summary

This article confirms that Mrs. Burns lemon basil is edible and highly valued for its strong citrus flavor. It provides a comprehensive guide on its culinary applications, detailing how to incorporate it into various dishes, beverages, and desserts. The article also covers its nutritional profile and compares its characteristics to standard lemon basil varieties.

Key Points

Edibility Confirmed: Mrs. Burns lemon basil is not only edible but is highly valued for its intense, complex citrus flavor.
Culinary Versatility: The herb can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, including marinades, desserts, teas, and sauces.
Flavor Profile: Its flavor is more robust and intensely lemony than standard lemon basil, with hints of spice and floral notes.
Nutritional Benefits: It contains antioxidants like citral and limonene, as well as vitamins A and K, contributing to a healthy diet.
Comparison to Standard Basil: Mrs. Burns basil features larger leaves, more vigorous growth, and slower bolting compared to standard lemon basil.
Harvest and Storage: For the best flavor, harvest before flowering and add the leaves toward the end of cooking. Store fresh leaves in the refrigerator or freeze for longer preservation.
Propagation: This heirloom herb readily self-seeds and is easy to grow, making it accessible for home gardeners.

Understanding Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil

Mrs. Burns lemon basil is a distinct heirloom cultivar of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) and is not a true lemon basil (O. × citriodorum) hybrid, though it offers a far more intense lemon flavor. Originating from a New Mexico garden, this robust variety is known for its larger, bright green leaves and a powerful lemon scent, with floral and spicy undertones. Its potent flavor makes it a favorite among culinary experts who appreciate its ability to hold up during cooking and provide a bright, zesty accent to numerous dishes.

Unlike many delicate herbs, Mrs. Burns lemon basil is heat-tolerant and more resistant to bolting, meaning it produces leaves longer into the season before flowering. The flowers themselves are also edible and can be used as a delicate garnish. Its carefree nature and prolific growth make it an excellent choice for home gardeners seeking a flavorful, low-maintenance herb.

Culinary Applications for Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil

The versatility of Mrs. Burns lemon basil extends across a wide range of culinary creations. Its strong citrus and basil notes can elevate both sweet and savory recipes. Here are some of the most popular uses:

Marinades and Dressings: The intense lemon flavor is perfect for creating vibrant vinaigrettes, salad dressings, and marinades for chicken, fish, and vegetables.
Seafood and Poultry: Add chopped leaves to roasted or grilled fish and chicken for a burst of fresh flavor.
Desserts: The herb's sweet, tangy profile makes it an unexpected but delightful addition to desserts like ice creams, sorbets, fruit salads, and baked goods such as cookies and cakes.
Beverages: Brew the leaves into a refreshing iced tea or infuse water for a delicate lemon flavor. It also pairs wonderfully in lemonade.
Pasta and Rice Dishes: Incorporate the finely chopped herb into rice dishes, pasta sauces, or pestos for a unique twist on classic recipes.

To preserve the most potent flavor, it's best to add Mrs. Burns lemon basil toward the end of the cooking process. For beverages and sauces, simply bruise or chop the leaves to release their essential oils and maximize the aroma.

Nutritional and Health Benefits

Beyond its taste, Mrs. Burns lemon basil offers several nutritional benefits that contribute to a healthy diet. Like other basil varieties, it contains a wealth of beneficial compounds. The high content of citral and limonene gives it its citrusy taste and provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Here are some of the key nutritional highlights:

Antioxidants: Contains powerful antioxidants like citral and limonene, which help fight cell-damaging free radicals in the body.
Vitamins: A good source of vitamins A (in the form of beta-carotene) and K, which are essential for vision, immune function, and bone health.
Minerals: Provides important minerals such as potassium, manganese, and iron.
Anti-inflammatory Effects: The essential oils in basil, including eugenol, are known to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the risk of inflammatory conditions.
Digestive Aid: Traditionally used to aid digestion and soothe gastrointestinal discomfort.

While this herb can contribute positively to a healthy diet, it should be enjoyed as a flavorful addition rather than a primary source of nutrients. For authoritative information on the health impacts of various herbs, consult a medical professional or a trusted source like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil vs. Standard Lemon Basil

While the names are similar, there are several key differences between Mrs. Burns lemon basil and standard lemon basil, which is a hybrid of sweet basil and hoary basil. Knowing these distinctions can help you choose the right herb for your culinary needs.


Feature	Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil (O. basilicum var. citriodora)	Standard Lemon Basil (O. × citriodorum)
Flavor Intensity	Strongest lemon scent and flavor of all lemon basils, with complex floral and spicy notes.	Milder lemon flavor and aroma.
Leaf Size	Larger leaves, around 2-3 inches long.	Generally smaller leaves.
Plant Habit	More robust and vigorous growth; heat and drought tolerant.	Can be less robust, depending on the cultivar.
Bolting	Slow to bolt, allowing for a longer harvest period.	More susceptible to bolting in high heat, which can cause leaves to become bitter.
Culinary Use	Excellent for applications where a strong, distinct lemon flavor is desired, including cooking at higher temperatures.	Best for dishes that require a subtler, fresher lemon-basil note, often added at the last minute.
Heat Tolerance	Tolerates heat well, reflecting its New Mexico origins.	Generally less heat tolerant; prefers moderate temperatures.

How to Store Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil

To keep your Mrs. Burns lemon basil fresh and flavorful for as long as possible, proper storage is key. The leaves are delicate and can bruise easily, so gentle handling is recommended.

Refrigeration: Place fresh, unwashed stems in a glass of water, much like a bouquet of flowers. Cover the leaves with a plastic bag and refrigerate for up to three days.
Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze the leaves. A popular method is to blend the leaves with a small amount of olive oil and freeze the mixture in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag.
Drying: Mrs. Burns lemon basil retains its flavor well when dried. Harvest the leaves before the plant flowers and dry them in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Store the dried leaves in an airtight container.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can absolutely eat Mrs. Burns lemon basil, and its potent, complex flavor makes it a prized addition to any kitchen. This heirloom variety offers a more robust and zesty citrus profile than its standard lemon basil counterparts, making it ideal for a wide range of culinary applications, from savory fish and poultry dishes to sweet desserts and refreshing beverages. Its hardy nature also makes it a rewarding herb for home gardeners to cultivate. By understanding its unique characteristics and proper storage techniques, you can fully enjoy the intense and delightful flavor that this special basil has to offer while also benefiting from its nutritional and antioxidant properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mrs. Burns lemon basil is a prized heirloom cultivar of sweet basil, named after Janet Burns, who propagated it in the 1930s from seeds found in a New Mexico garden. It is known for its more intense lemon scent and flavor compared to standard lemon basil.

Yes, Mrs. Burns lemon basil is completely edible and highly sought after by chefs and home cooks for its strong, tangy, and sweet citrus flavor. All parts of the plant, including the leaves and flowers, can be used in cooking.

This variety has a much more intense lemon flavor than regular lemon basil, with additional undertones of spice and floral notes. The flavor is bright, complex, and holds up well when cooked.

It is excellent in salad dressings, marinades, and teas. It also pairs wonderfully with seafood, poultry, rice dishes, and desserts like ice cream and fruit salads.

Yes. Like other basils, it contains beneficial compounds, including antioxidants like citral and limonene, which have anti-inflammatory properties. It is also a source of vitamins A and K, and minerals like potassium and iron.

For short-term storage, place the unwashed stems in a glass of water, cover with a plastic bag, and refrigerate for up to three days. For longer storage, you can freeze the leaves in olive oil or dry them.

Mrs. Burns lemon basil is an heirloom cultivar of sweet basil, while standard lemon basil is a hybrid. Mrs. Burns has a more intense flavor, larger leaves, and a more robust growth habit, making it more heat-tolerant and slower to bolt.