What is the difference between basil and Greek basil? Greek basil is one of the smallest varieties growing to only 8 inches tall. Greek basil is often used to spice up salads or in soups or meat dishes.
What does Basil taste like?
This type of Basil has small leaves and can also be used as an ornamental plant. It has a mild spicy flavor to it and is often used as a garnish in soups and salads or to spice up meat and chicken curries. This basil is particularly helpful in preventing and curing spasms.
Is there more than one type of Basil?
While sweet basil might be the most commonly used variety, there are several different kinds, each with a unique flavor profile. 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.
What is the difference between Thai basil and holy basil?
But the two actually belong to different species — holy basil belongs to the Ocimum tenuiflorum species, and Thai basil belongs to the Ocimum basilicum species. While Thai basil presents stronger licorice flavor, holy basil has a more peppery, clove flavor.
What is the difference between lime basil&lemon basil?
Use lemon basil in fish or poultry marinades, grilled vegetables, desserts, and teas. Lime basil has a sweet, mild but bright citrus flavor. The leaves are bright green with a narrow shape. Lime basil grows between 16 and 24 inches tall. While not quite of popular as lemon basil, some gardeners grow both together in the herb garden.
What does Greek basil taste like?
Greek Basil Greek basil plants provide tiny leaves that can also be used to garnish various dishes. You can substitute this for basil, especially sweet basil, whenever you run out, as its taste is almost identical to regular basil, sweet and aromatic with pepper anise and mint hints.
What is Greek basil used for?
in height, Greek basil is the favorite in sauces for tomato dishes, Italian food and other recipes. The leaves of Greek basil herb plants have a great deal of medicinal value, according to sources. A basil tea calms the stomach and relieves spasms in the digestive track.
Which type of basil is best?
13 Favorite Basil Varieties for Your Herb GardenBoxwood.Cinnamon.Dark Opal.Emerald Towers.Genovese.Greek.Italian Large Leaf.Lemon.More items...•
What is the difference between Italian and Greek basil?
Small leaved Greek basil is the best type for sauces, while the larger fleshy leaves of the popular Italian basil is best for salads and the famous Genoese basil sauce, pesto, which goes especially well with pasta.
Does Greek cooking use basil?
In Greek cooking, many dishes, breads, salads, dressings, and sauces are flavored with a variety of herbs, greens, and spices unique to this country's combination of tastes. Some of the most common are oregano, mint, dill, basil, cinnamon, cumin, and coriander.
How do you cut Greek basil?
0:020:20How to Harvest Greek Basil - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe most mature stems by cutting out a node just above another set of leaves. You can harvest aboutMoreThe most mature stems by cutting out a node just above another set of leaves. You can harvest about one-third of the entire plant every week to two weeks depending on growth.
Which basil has the best Flavour?
Thai Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. 'Siam Queen' is an All-America Selections Winner with improved characteristics like compact growth, slow flowering, and excellent flavor.
Which type of basil is best for cooking?
1. Sweet Basil. It is the most used and popular basil variety to grow. Sweet basil is used extensively in cooking for its aromatic foliage.
Which type of basil is healthiest?
The Healthiest 18 Types Of Basil for Cooking and Medicinal UsesGenovese Basil. This basil variety is used in several Italian dishes. ... Thai Basil. Thai basil as an intensive strong flavor. ... Napoletano Basil. ... Dark Opal Basil. ... Christmas Basil. ... Lemon Basil. ... Lettuce Leaf Basil. ... Lime Basil.More items...
What is Greek basil?
Greek Basil has small oval green leaves with a slightly softer sweeter flavour than the more traditional Basil Sweet Genovese. It is easy to grow and will keep producing new fresh leaves if regularly picked through the season. It is such a useful culinary herb for the kitchen.
Is Greek basil same as sweet basil?
Greek basil is known for its smaller leaves and has a more potent aroma and flavor than sweet basil. Despite its name, it originates from Chile rather than Greece. It is known to be quite sweet and aromatic with flavors of anise, mint, and pepper.
Which type of basil is best for pesto?
The Italians are onto a good thing, with basil varieties such as the classic 'Genovese' a staple of real, home cooking. Fragrant, near-glossy dark-green leaves make the best pesto, but look out too for red and crinkle-leaved varieties and the bushy Greek basil, whose tiny leaves pack a tasty punch.
What does basil taste like?
Basil is known for mild pepper like flavor and has a pleasing aroma with slight hint of mint. It’s taste changes as we tend to chew it from mild peppery to a very light yet sweet taste. The name itself has a Latin origin and means a royal plant. It is usually seen as a bushy plant with lots of branches originating from the stem.
What is the holy basil?
1) Holy Basil. More commonly known as ‘ Tulsi ,’ the Holy Basil has a religious value in Hinduism and has been known to have immune boosting qualities. Not only Hindus but ancient Romans and Greeks have also considered Basil to be symbolic of fertility and love.
What is the best basil to use for spasms?
10) Greek Basil. This type of Basil has small leaves and can also be used as an ornamental plant. It has a mild spicy flavor to it and is often used as a garnish in soups and salads or to spice up meat and chicken curries. This basil is particularly helpful in preventing and curing spasms.
What is basil and lemon used for?
It is most often used in poultry marinades, grilled fish, desserts and even salads to infuse the lemon-like scent and taste to these dishes.
How long does it take for basil to mature?
This variety matures much earlier in comparison to other types of basil. This basil plant matures fully in around a time span of around two to three months.
How tall do basil plants grow?
The leaves are generally thick and green, and the maximum height for the plant is around 2 feet only though there are exceptions in size. Some varieties are dwarf sized while there are a few of them which grow higher than the mentioned size of the natural Basil plant. Usually tiny white or purple flowers with a spiky center can be seen on ...
How tall is basil?
This type of Basil is the tallest growing variety of Basil with its height reach of up to 4 feet. Its fragrance is an atypical mixture of various scents which in themselves are strong like that of the camphor, mint, peppers, and cloves.
How tall is basil?
With sizes ranging from 8 inches to 4 feet tall, there are plenty of choices when it comes to growing basil in the garden.
What is Thai basil?
Thai basil has smaller dark pointed leaves and boasts a spicy, licorice flavor. The dark purple flower heads and stems of Thai basil contrast beautifully with the deep green leaves making it a real stunner in the herb garden. Asian dishes often feature Thai basil, such as Spicy Sesame Noodles or Thai Basil Chicken.
What is lettuce leaf basil?
Lettuce Leaf Basil. Lettuce leaf basil is an Italian basil with a mild flavor . Although the leaves are large, the plant itself is pretty compact in size. It is one of the shorter basils growing to just about a foot high. It is also slow to flower, so lasts a bit longer in the heat of the summer before going to seed.
What is green ruffled basil?
Green Ruffles Basil has curled leaves making it a lovely basil to grow in the garden. The flavor is mild and delicate is especially good in pasta dishes. The ruffled leaves also make this a great basil to use in salads. Green Ruffles Basil is larger than its cousin the sweet basil growing up to 24 inches tall.
How big is lettuce basil?
As the name implies, it works well in salads and fresh dishes. The leaves of the lettuce basil are four inches wide and between six and ten inches long.
What is the color of cinnamon basil?
Cinnamon Basil. Cinnamon Basil is a spicy, fragrant variety of basil. The cinnamon basil plant is another beauty in the herb garden. The stems are a reddish, purple color with pink flowers at maturity. Cinnamon Basil has a milder basil flavor and pairs well with fruit contributing a slight zing with the cinnamon flavor.
How tall does purple basil grow?
Highly aromatic, purple basil can be steeped in vinegar or oil to add beautiful color to your dishes. The Dark Opal Purple basil grows 18 inches tall. A few plants (about 20%) will be variegated or green plants creating a pretty color combination. It has large leaves that average one to 1 2/3 inches when fully grown.
Where does basil come from?
Turns out there are plenty of types of basil to choose from. Basil is a kitchen herb in the mint family. Although it’s native to India, basil is used in a wide number of cuisines, from Italian to Thai and Vietnamese recipes.
What is Thai basil?
Thai basil is strong and bold, with a spicy, licorice-like flavor. The leaves are smaller and pointier, and the plant produces beautiful purple flowers. This type of basil holds up well to high-temperature cooking, so don’t be afraid to add it to your favorite stir-fry recipe.
What kind of basil is used in pesto?
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. Use it to make pesto or a caprese salad.
What is the best herb to use for grilled vegetables?
Combining the flavors of fresh basil and lemon is a sure winner, so it makes sense that this variety is gaining in popularity. This herb is sweet and has a powerful lemon scent, making it ideal for grilled vegetables or fish dishes.
Is basil green or purple?
As its name suggests, this type of basil isn’t green like most herbs. It’s a vibrant purple color with larger-than-normal leaves. It’s not as sweet as other basil varieties, and it has a strong clove flavor.
Holy Basil VS Basil: Naming
Holy basil and sweet basil are like cousins. Think of them like lemons and limes. They belong to the Lamiaceae family and the Ocimum genus, however, they belong to different species.
What Are Its Uses?
Holy basil is deeply rooted in the Hinduism religion, Ayurveda, and traditional Hindu medicine. In the Hinduism religion, it was worshipped as it was considered as the Mother Medicine of nature. In ancient Hindu societies, it was used for treating different ailments, including sore throat, memory loss, fever, headaches, cuts, and acne.
Holy Basil VS Basil: Physical Features
At a glance, you may not be able to tell holy basil apart from sweet basil. However, if you look closely, you will notice some obvious differences. The most outstanding difference is the texture of their stems. Holy basil has a hairy stem while regular basil has a smooth, hairless stem. The hairs in holy basil are more pronounced in older plants.
Holy Basil VS Basil: The Taste
Holy basil has a peppery, clove-like taste. Some people liken its taste to that of Jamaican peppers. Sweet basil has a licorice-clove flavor. The holy basil flavor is more potent and becomes stronger when exposed to heat during the cooking process.
Method of Consumption
Both holy basil and regular basil can be consumed in a variety of ways. Both their leaves and flowers are edible and non-toxic. They can be steeped in water to form infused basil tea. They can also be infused in olive oil or red wine or white wine vinegar to make salad dressings.
Growing Conditions
Sweet basil is an annual crop. It lasts for a year before flowering and seeding towards the end of the year. On the other hand, holy basil is a perennial crop. It lasts for many years with cycles of dormancy and blooming depending on the weather conditions.
Nutritional Facts
Holy basil and sweet basil have a similar macronutrient profile, however, they vary in their micronutrient profile in that holy basil contains high levels of vitamins A and C, while regular basil does not.
How does Thai basil stand up to Italian basil?
So, how does Thai basil stand up against the more familiar Italian sweet basil? At a glance, the most distinguishable difference is the color of the stems: Thai basil has a purple stem and sweet basil has a green stem. And unlike the delicate, floppy leaves you find on sweet basil, Thai basil leaves are much sturdier, meaning they'll hold up better during cooking (sweet basil leaves are usually added fresh, after the rest of the dish has been cooked). Thai basil leaves are also smaller and more narrow than large, circular sweet basil leaves.
What is Thai basil?
Thai basil is of Southeast Asian origin, and is a common ingredient among the cuisines of this region. It has a slightly spicy, licorice-like flavor. In terms of appearance, Thai basil has a purple stem and small, sturdy leaves with serrated edges.
What herbs can I use to replace Thai basil?
Supplementing with other fresh herbs like mint or cilantro can help make up for some of that flavor loss. But in dishes where Thai basil is central (like in Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls ), it's worth it to seek out Thai basil.
Where can I buy Thai basil?
Where to Buy Thai Basil. You might be able to find Thai basil at a well-stocked supermarket, but you're more likely to find it at an Asian or International market. You can also grow your own Thai basil, as you would other fresh herbs . thai basil leaves on stem on blue/white background.
Can you use Thai basil in pho?
It's essential to many Southeast Asian dishes like panang curry and pho. Use it fresh in this Vermicelli Noodle Bowl or these Thai Basil Rolls with Hoisin-Peanut Sauce. Or cook it up in this Thai Spicy Basil Chicken Fried Rice.
What are the different types of basil?
Here are the Different Types of Basil: 1. Sweet Basil. via Bentley Seed Co. I’m going to start with what most people are the familiar with. Sweet Basil is your traditional style Basil that most of us use in our tomato sauces, pesto, in soups, and I use it a lot to make my own Italian seasonings.
Why is basil unique?
This basil is unique because of its dark coloring. You may have never considered adding herbs to your flower arrangements, but after reading this article, hopefully, your mind will change. Because this variety of basil is a great one to use in a flower arrangement to add some color.
What is the difference between sweet basil and Genovese?
But you’ll know the difference between sweet basil and Genovese because Genovese is flatter and pointier than traditional sweet basil . It also has a more aromatic flavor. 3.
What is the best basil for chicken?
9. Lime Basil. Lime basil is similar to lemon basil as it looks like a traditional variety of basil. Yet, it too packs a different flavor. But instead of lemon, this variety of basil packs a lime flavor. So the lime flavoring makes it great for both fish and chicken recipes.
What is basil good for?
This variety of basil is great in flower arrangements because of its beauty but also works well in the kitchen too. It is great for rice dishes, meat dishes, and vegetable dishes too. Well, you now know of 21 different varieties of basil.
How long does it take for basil to grow?
Because it is a dwarf it matures much earlier than other basil and is slower to bolt than other basil as well. It should produce within 30-60 days of planting.
Is Genovese basil sweet?
It is said to have a sweeter smell and taste than Genovese basil. So because of this, it can still be used to make everything else that the other varieties of sweet basil can. If you have a sweet tooth, then you’ll probably love this variety. 5.
