Definition of basil
It is the hoe or the basil and is called in Europe the royal basil, the royal herb, St. Joseph's wort, the hawq, the jamr, the carmani basil, the thyme basil, the Indian thyme, the Nabatean basil, the hummus, the great basil, the epistaxis tree, or the gardener's basil. It is an aromatic herbaceous plant that belongs to to the oral family. It is used for decorating, cooking, and healing. Basil flowers are white or purple in color, and have a distinctive fragrant aroma. The color of the leaves can range from green to violet, and the size of the leaves varies between large ones, such as those that resemble lettuce leaves, to small leaves that reach a length of 1 cm. Basil is an ancient spice commonly used in preparing soups and salads and improving the flavor of tea; While its essential oil extracted from its leaves is used in the manufacture of perfumes and drinks, basil is also considered a medicine for many diseases in ancient medicine.
Basil is believed to have its origins in India or Africa and has been cultivated for over 5,000 years. It was known to the Greek writers, Dioscorides and Theophrastus. It is famous for its culinary uses, especially in Italian cuisine, and plays an important role in Southeast Asian cuisines, such as: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Taiwan.
Taste and smell
The taste of basil leaves is somewhat similar to the taste of anise, depending on its type and variety, but with a fragrant, pungent aroma. There are also many types of basil, in addition to related species or hybrid species. The type used in Italian cuisine is often called sweet basil or Genoese basil, while in Asian cuisines such as Thai basil, lemon basil, and holy basil. Most common basils are annuals, and some are perennials in warm, tropical climates, such as holy basil and the cultivar known as African blue basil.
label
Basil, plural of Rayhain, and its meaning according to the dictionaries of the Arabic language is mercy and sustenance, and basil is a name given to every fragrant plant, and this plant is also called basil. Also in the sense of farting. The ancient Egyptians called it Set or Shamu, and the people of Iraq and the Levant called it Al-Habak, and in the West it is called Al-Aas, but in Yemen it is called Al-Habi or Al-Raouz. It is also known by several other names, including: Waraq Al-Mashmoum, Basil Al-Hamahim, Badrug, Hawk, Shamsfarm, and it is called Tulsi in India.
The English name for basil, Basil, is derived from the Greek word βασιλεύς (Basilios), which means king, as it was associated with the commemoration of the Feast of the Cross, which coincides with the day the Cross was found by Saint Helena. The Oxford English Dictionary quotes expectations that basil may have been used in some royal ointments, when bathing, and in medicine. Basil is still considered the king of herbs by many cookbook authors.
Species and varieties
The most commercially available types of basil are often sweet basil cultivars. There are over 160 named varieties available with new ones being added each year and more being added to the commercial sale list.
List of basil cultivars
Ocimum basilicum 'Cinnamon' has a spicy, fragrant flavour, and contains the compound methyl cinnamate, which in turn gives it a flavor similar to that of cinnamon.
Dark basil Ocimum basilicum 'Dark Opal' is a basil developed by John Skarchuk and Joseph Lint at the University of Connecticut. Its leaves are dark purple, sometimes mottled.
Ocimum basilicum 'Crispum' The young plant has large, wrinkled sweet leaves, suitable for cooking.
Purple basil Ocimum basilicum 'Purpurescens'
Red basil Ocimum basilicum 'Rubin' The plant has unusual red leaves and has a stronger taste than sweet basil, making it suitable for salads and as a garnish. It grows quickly and can reach 70 cm in length.
Dwarf basil Ocimum basilicum 'Minimum' The plant grows neatly and is suitable for small gardens and pots.
Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum thyrsifolium) is a vigorous and compact plant that can reach lengths of over 45 cm. It has narrow, glossy green leaves that are slightly serrated, an anise-like aroma and a hint of licorice.
hybrids
African blue basil Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum 'Dark Opal' This species does not produce its own seeds and can be grown with a stalk. It has a strong camphor scent inherited from Kilimanjaro basil.
Ocimum basilicum X O. americanum (sometimes sold as holy basil)
Lemon basil Ocimum × africanum = Ocimum basilicum X O. americanum The plant grows mainly in northeastern Africa and southern Asia, and is used in the kitchen for its lemony aroma.