Usage: Basil is good with fish, meat, poultry and vegetable dishes. Use in salads, soups, and stews. Try adding basil to salt, minced garlic, and olive oil to make pesto.

Info: Also known as St. Joseph’s Wort, basil is a widely used and versatile herb, most commonly used in Italian, French, and Mediterranean cuisines. Basil is derived from basileus, Greek for king, and it also happens that culinary authors consider this herb the “King of Herbs”. It is a symbol of love in Italian culture - it indicates a man’s intentions for marriage and a woman’s willingness. And in Indian culture, it is a symbol of hospitality. However, the Greeks believed one can become insane to its sweet, yet strong, flavor.

Basil is a herbaceous, annual plant with over twelve varieties cultivated for culinary use. The more commonly used varieties are sweet basil and Thai basil.

Origin: India