I studied Bioscience as an undergrad, though I majored in zoology, I also loved botany: forgive me, therefore, if this post gets a bit technical and you start seeing many scientific names!
The only basil I once knew was the one used in Italian cooking; pizzas, pasta’s, in pesto sauces… The game changed once I started cooking Thai. Suddenly there were all these “other basils”, and finding the right one became a nightmare! I’d refer books and scour the internet to see if I have got the right one for the recipe; well most of the time it seems like I did. I hope this post will help others like me struggling to identify the different varieties of basil out there.
Basil is a culinary herb, known not just for its flavour, but also for many health benefits. By itself, the word basil would usually refer to the basil predominantly used in western dishes, the classic Italian basil or the great basil or sweet basil; and herein lies the rub… in Thailand, Thai basil is also referred to as sweet basil. I know right?! Disconcerting to say the least. This leads to retailers labeling both “normal” basil and Thai basil as sweet basil, which although may be used interchangeably on occasion, are actually two very different leaves, each having their own distinct flavours. Thus, if you are not familiar with the aroma and taste, the only way to truly identify basil leaf varieties is by the external appearance.
Scientifically basil belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and its scientific name is Ocimum basilicum. Thai basil is a variety of this same species;O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora. To add more spice to this discussion, in Thailand, three types of basil are commonly used in Thai cuisine. Thai sweet basil (the one we have just been talking about), Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), and the less commonly used lemon basil or hoary basil (Ocimum × africanum: a hybrid between Ocimum basilicum and the American basil Ocimum americanum). These are definitely not the only varieties of basil out there, some say there maybe as many as 150 different kinds, but most are derived from the species listed here.
So how do you identify different kinds of basil?
Italian basil: leaves are a medium green colour with a rounded cup shape. This will be the basil most likely sold in a grocery store. another variety of this basil is the Genovese basil, which has darker, flatter leaves, but is also used in Italian cooking.
Thai Sweet basil: Leaves are smaller, darker, and pointed. it has purple stems and pink-purple flowers. The flavour is spicier and has hints of anise or licorice. Thai basil is an ingredient of both red and green coconut curries as well as stir fry dishes.
Holy basil: Native to India, holy basil is used in Ayurvedic medicine and is a sacred plant in Hinduism. It is highly fragrant with a peppery flavour. In Thai cuisine, it is commonly used in stir fry dishes and could also be used as a condiment to certain dishes when crispy fried.
Lemon basil: much like the Thai basil in appearance but a lighter green in colour, without the red stems. Lemon basil, as the name indicates, has a strong citrus flavour and is commonly used in Laotian, Indonesian and some Thai dishes.
References
“Holy Basil: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1101/holy-basil.
“Medicinal Herbs in Thai Cooking.” Healthy & Easy THAI COOKING, by Jeanne Mcalitster and Pachara Bunnag, Health & Cuisine Publishing, 2010.
Overhiser, Author: Sonja, et al. “Quick Guide to Basil.” A Couple Cooks, 4 Aug. 2021, www.acouplecooks.com/basil/.
Virginia. “15 Types of Basil to Add a Little Variety in Your Herb Garden.” The Culinary Herb Garden, 23 July 2021, howtoculinaryherbgarden.com/types-of-basil/.
Images
1Robin. Comparing Basil Leaves. 26 Aug. 2008, www.flickr.com/photos/fotoosvanrobin/2799295055.
2Virginia. Lemon Basil. 23 July 2021, howtoculinaryherbgarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/lemon-basil.jpg.
