Basil
Basil is the herb derived from the leaves and shoots of various species and cultivars of the genus Ocimum in the mint family. There are over 60 species and hundreds of cultivars, but the most widely used in cooking are:
- Sweet Basil: Ocimum basilicum (below)
- Holy Basil: Ocimum tenuiflorum
- Lemon Basil: Ocimum × citriodorum
- Thai Basil: Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora
- Purple Basil: Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens
Learn more about basil here.
