Lemon basil, hoary basil, Thai lemon basil, or Lao basil, (Ocimum × africanum) is a hybrid between basil (Ocimum basilicum) and American basil (Ocimum americanum). The herb is grown primarily in northeastern Africa and southern Asia for its fragrant lemon scent, and is used in cooking.
What is the difference between lemon basil and Thai basil?
But, Thai basil is also delicious and adds a burst of licorice or anise to curries and stir-fries, and lemon or lime basil has a fresh citrus fragrance and mild lemony flavor so good in tea, marinades, and salad dressings. Different types of basil are a starring ingredient in cuisines all around the world.
Does lemon basil taste like lemon?
Description/Taste
Lemon basil has a unique herbal, sweet, and tangy flavor with notes of lemon mixed with anise. In the late summer, the plants also produce lemon-scented, small white flowers that bloom on long, light green bracts.
What is the different types of basil?
BasilLower classifications
Is lemon basil edible?
Lemon Basil is a fragrant ornamental and edible plant. Green narrow leaves with a flavor of Lemon.
Can I use lemon basil instead of Thai basil?
The best substitutes for Thai basil are other members of the mint family, such as sweet, Italian, lemon, and holy basil, oregano, and mint. Licorice-flavored herbs like tarragon, fennel, and chervil and spices like star anise and cloves are suitable substitutes. Try cilantro for a different flavor.
What type of basil is best for cooking?
Sweet Basil
It is the most used and popular basil variety to grow. Sweet basil is used extensively in cooking for its aromatic foliage.
What does lemon basil do?
Lemon Basil is a great source of Vitamin K. This Vitamin assists the body in faster wound healing. The herb also provides considerable magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, calcium, and Vitamin C to the body.
Does lemon basil repel mosquitoes?
Its characteristic aroma keeps mosquitoes away. All varieties of basil repel mosquitoes. However, lemon basil, cinnamon basil and Peruvian basil are immensely effective against mosquitoes due to their strong aroma.
Should you let lemon basil flower?
Once you let your basil flower, the leaves turn somewhat bitter and will produce no more; it wants to make seed. So the idea is to keep it going so you can get maximum harvest yields until September or October, depending upon your growing season and then let it flower for the pollinators.
How do I identify lemon basil?
Lemon basil stems can grow to 20–40 cm (8–20 in) tall. It has white flowers in late summer to early fall. The leaves are similar to basil leaves, but tend to be narrower with slightly serrated edges. Seeds form on the plant after flowering and dry on the plant.
What is the healthiest basil to eat?
The healthiest basil is sweet basil, Genovese basil, Thai basil, Napoletano basil, dark opal basil, lemon basil, lime basil, lettuce leaf basil, and Holy basil. These varieties are commonly used in daily meals and medicinal uses.
What is another name for common basil?
Other Name(s): Albahaca, Basilic, Basilic Commun, Basilic Grand, Basilic Grand Vert, Basilic Romain, Basilic aux Sauces, Basilici Herba, Basilici Herba, Common Basil, Garden Basil, Krishna Tulsi, Munjariki, Ocimum basilicum, St. Josephwort, Surasa, Sweet Basil, Vanatulasi, Varvara, Visva Tulsi.
When should you not eat basil?
How to tell if basil is bad or spoiled? Basil that is spoiling will typically become soft and discolored and the leaves will start to darken; discard any basil that has an off smell or appearance.
How do you cut lemon basil?
Harvest the leaves at any time, just leave at least half on the plant so it can continue to grow and produce more leaves. Pinch off flowers for best flavor, but if you leave them on, the aroma can help repel many insect pests.
Does lemon basil grow back?
Lemon Basil grows best at 18 – 30 °C / 64 – 86 °F. Lemon basil likes to be cut! Start trimming your plants approximately one month after planting. You may remove single leaves occasionally but, for more thriving growth, pinching off the whole tip is recommended – it will grow two new shoots in a week.
Why does my basil taste like lemon?
There are certain varieties of basil that smell of lemon, or citrus. This lemon smell is the result of a chemical compound called Citral that is present in some basil varieties. The compound citral is made of neral and geranium and produces this distinct lemony scent that is pleasant to smell.
Can I use regular basil in place of Thai basil?
No Thai Basil? No problem! Some recipes call for Thai basil, a pungent variety that can be hard to find in grocery stores. To duplicate its flavor, use common “Italian” basil and add a few fresh mint sprigs to the recipe.
Is there a difference between Thai basil and regular basil?
Flavor: Taste is the most noticeable difference between sweet basil and Thai basil. Thai basil leaves have a distinctive flavor with bold notes of licorice and spice. True to its common name, sweet basil has a sweeter flavor and more peppery notes.
Which basil has the best Flavour?
Basil ‘Sweet’ (Genovese), Ocimum basilicum, is the most popular variety of basil, with large, soft leaves and a sweet taste. It’s great raw with tomatoes (and can be grown with them to deter whitefly) and is widely grown in Italy for use in pesto.
What is the tastiest basil?
The best variety to grow for flavor is sweet basil
Sweet basil, specifically a variety of sweet basil called Genovese basil, is the star of the Italian classic, pesto, as well as many other sauces and soups.