Basil leaves are glossy and oval-shaped, with smooth or slightly toothed edges that typically cup slightly; the leaves are arranged oppositely along the square stems. The small flowers are borne in terminal clusters and range in colour from white to magenta.
How do I know what kind of basil I have?
The easiest way to identify basil, without even looking at it, is to smell it. Anyone who has ever touched a basil plant can instantly identify the smell that wafts from it. Lemon basil, cinnamon basil and Thai basil all smell like basil mixed with something else.
What are the different types of basil?
Basil cultivars
| Ocimum basilicum cultivars | |
|---|---|
| Common name | Species and cultivars |
| Clove Basil | O. gratissimum |
| Greek basil (Greek spicy globe Basil) | O. minimum (alt. O. basilicum var. minimum) |
| Dwarf bush basil | O. minimum |
What is the most common type of basil?
Sweet basil
Sweet basil is the most common variety at the grocery store. If your recipe doesn’t specify what kind of basil to use, it probably calls for sweet basil. This type of basil has dark green, glossy leaves and a sweet but slightly spicy flavor.
What types of basil are edible?
10 Basil Varieties & How to Use Them
- Christmas Basil. With 2-inch, glossy green leaves and purple flowers, Christmas basil adds fruity flavor to salads and drinks, and the plants are gorgeous in the landscape.
- Cinnamon Basil.
- Dark Opal Basil.
- Holy Basil.
- Lemon Basil.
- Lime Basil.
- Spicy Bush Basil.
- Purple Ruffles Basil.
Are all basil leaves edible?
Almost every basil variety is grown as a culinary herb. And not just the leaves, the flowers, and stems of the basil are perfectly edible.
Which basil is used for cooking?
Sweet Basil (aka genovese basil or common basil) – The most common and widely available form of basil, with a fresh, subtly sweet flavor and aroma. Sweet basil is typically used in Italian and Mediterranean cuisines.
Are there two types of basil?
While sweet and Genovese are probably the most common varieties of basil, they are many other wonderful variations to choose from.
Does basil grow back every year?
Basil Plants Do Not Come Back Every Year
Then they’re done as soon as the first frost arrives! The lifespan of a basil plant is less than one year in any climate that experiences frost. Annual garden herbs like basil die with the first frost, roots and all. It won’t perk back up in spring after the winter freeze.
What is the difference between basil and Italian basil?
Italian basil is not a real cultivar (by cultivar I mean “cultural variety”) of basil. “Italian basil” a general term for the types of basil that may be used in Italian cooking. The two types of basil cultivars that are used in Italian cooking include Sweet Basil, the most common cultivar, and Genovese Basil.
Is there a difference between basil and sweet basil?
Sweet basil is a sub-type of common basil with milder or licoricey taste. It is the best choice for Italian sauces and soups and for making pesto. Sweet basil leaves can sustain better in high-temperature cooking than common basil, so they are widely used in the South Asian cuisine.
What’s the difference between sweet basil and Italian basil?
Italian large leaf basil is used in Neapolitan cooking more commonly than sweet (or Genovese) basil. This type of basil is slightly less peppery than sweet basil and, ironically, slightly sweeter. It is commonly used to make sauces and pesto.
Should I let my basil plant go to seed?
Home gardeners growing basil as an annual should put off letting it set seed for as long as possible. Allowing basil to set seed at the end of the growing season will ensure gardeners a supply of viable seeds for their spring basil crop.
Is it OK to eat basil after it flowers?
Basil flowers are perfectly edible. In terms of fragrance and flavor, the flowers are similar, if milder, than the leaves. Sometimes, flowers can be somewhat bitter, so test them first. When sprinkled over a salad, basil flowers impart a mild basil flavor and add a decorative touch.
Should you let basil flower?
If you are cultivating basil strictly for its leaves, it is best to remove the flowers. Pinching basil blooms back will allow all of the plant’s energy to stay focused on foliage production, creating a bushier plant with more leaves and maintaining higher levels of essential oils in the leaves.
What does a basil leaf look like?
Basil leaves are solid and oblong with a point at the end. The leaves of common sweet basil have a glossy green appearance and grow between 2 and 4 inches long. The leaves often have a slight curve downward with a slightly bumpy or grooved appearance along the veins in the leaves.
Which basil is used in pizza?
There are many varieties of Basil, just to mention a few, the one most commonly associated with Italian cooking is sweet basil, small or big leaves depending on the area but this is the one to use if you want to make a true Italian pesto.
Can basil be poisonous?
Basil contains a chemical, estragole, which has caused liver cancer in laboratory mice. Children: Basil is LIKELY SAFE for children in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts are POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Basil contains a chemical, estragole, which has caused liver cancer in laboratory mice.
Does basil make poop?
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) seed has been found to relieve constipation by acting as a bulk-forming laxative in one preliminary study.
What does basil do for the body?
A: Basil helps fight oxidative stress, depression and inflammation in the body. It also helps in the prevention and cure of diseases like cancer, diabetes and other heart conditions. Fresh basil contains Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Iron, Manganese, Calcium, and essential oils.
Is basil better cooked or raw?
If a recipe simply calls for “basil,” sweet basil is the way to go. Other varieties can have stronger flavors that can give you an unintended result in your recipes. Holy basil is best cooked (it can be bitter when raw), but purple basil is best raw as that pretty purple color turns black when cooked.
Marilyn Medina is a food expert with over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry. She has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world, including The Ritz-Carlton and The French Laundry.
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