The initial moisture content of the landraces of basil was 80.72% (w/w) for purple and 83.97% (w/w) for green. The air drying time taken to reach moisture contents of 19.6% (purple) and 21.1% (green) was 6 days, the sun drying time to reach 17.1% (purple) and 18.3% (green) was 60 h, the oven drying at 40 C time to reach 16.9% (purple) and 18.1% (green) was 60 h, the oven drying at 60 C time to reach 16.1% (purple) and 17.8% (green) was 44 h, the microwave time to reach 17.2% (purple) and 17.3% (green) was 6 min and the freeze-drying time to reach 21.7% (purple) and 21.4% (green) for was 40 h.