Basil | ||||||||||||
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
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Species | ||||||||||||
O. basilicum
O. campechianum O. canum O. gratissimum O. kilimandscharicum O. tenuiflorum Ref: ITIS 32626 (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=32626) 2002-08-03 |
Basil is a low-growing annual. It has light green silky leaves and tastes somewhat like cloves, with a strong, pungent, sweet smell. The fresh herb can be kept for a short time in plastic bags in the refrigerator, or for a longer period in the freezer, after being blanched quickly in boiling water. Place fresh leaves in a dry jar with a pinch of salt, and cover with olive oil. The dried herb tastes utterly different, rather like curry.
Basil is characteristic of Mediterranean cuisines and others where the tomato is prominent.
The word basil means "royal". The Oxford English Dictionary quotes speculation that basil may have been used in "some royal unguent, bath, or medicine". Culinary writers opine it means "king of herbs".
wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump