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Basil
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Common Name:
Basil
Scientific Name:
Ocimum basilicum |
Taste and Aroma
Basil has a very distinct flavor that is very unique. Basil also has different varieties that have different milder flavors like lemon and mint.
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General Description
There are more than twelve varieties of basil that are cultivated for culinary use. Sweet Basil, Ocimum bacilicum, and its close relative Genoa Basil, Genova Profumatissima, are the most familiar varieties. Both produce fragrant, broad, deep green leaves in abundance. Their spiciness is the perfect compliment to ripe red tomatoes and soft cheeses such as fresh mozzarella and brie.
Other varieties of basil range in color from richly ruffled purple to pale mossy green. Each one has a distinctive taste, with its name revealing the underlying tones: Lemon Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Persian Anise Basil. Even their tiny flowers, which appear in swirls on slender spikes that extend high above the plants, are edible. Depending on the type, the flowers are either bright white, pale pink, or a delicate lavender. The flavor of the flower is milder, but similar to the leaves of the same plant. Sprinkle them over salad or pasta for a concentrated flavor and a spark of color that gives any dish a fresh, festive look.
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Growing
Basil is one of the easiest of the herbs to grow. Given long hours of hot sunlight and plenty of water, it will produce a crop of fragrant leaves all summer. Be sure to pinch back the top and cut off any flower spikes. This will encourage more growth and keep the plant producing up until the first frost. This longevity makes basil an ideal plant for a garden border. Try planting a number of different varieties to add color to the garden. Thai and Cinnamon Basil, their leaves slender and pale with sharp grooves and contrasting deep purple flower spikes, are dramatic when interspersed with the rich hues of the Purple Ruffle Basil and Sweet Basil (with its broad, vibrantly green foliage). If space is a problem, most forms of basil do well in containers, and even indoors, as long as they have sufficient light and heat.
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