basil

Basil

Latin Name: Ocimum basilicum

Family: Lamiaceae

Other names: Basil Lettuce, Common Basil, Mexican Basil, sweet basil, Genovese basil

Culinary use

Basil is a popular culinary herb that comes in many varieties and is used all over the world. It has a sweet, pungent and slightly peppery flavour that can have notes of cinnamon, liquorice, lemon and anise. It is available fresh and dried, and used raw and cooked in a wide variety of dishes, including sauces, soups, salads and drinks. It is the main ingredient in the Italian sauce pesto and a common pizza topping.

Medicinal use

In traditional medicine, basil has been used to help treat a wide variety of ailments. Studies have suggested it is effective in treating fungal, viral, bacterial and protozoal infections.

SOURCES

Plants of the World Online

Ambrose, Dawn C. P.; Manickavasagan, Annamalai; Naik, Ravindra (2016). Leafy Medicinal Herbs: Botany, Chemistry, Postharvest Technology and Uses