Holy Basil

Holy basil is a bushy, aromatic herb with serrated green leaves that may be purple-tinged. Its flavor is peppery and clove-like with a warm, camphorous lift, and the tender leaves bruise easily yet perfume dishes quickly. Use it at the end of stir-fries, curries, and noodle soups or steep it for herbal teas; it is commonly sold as fresh bunches, potted plants, or dried leaves.

Native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, it is central to Indian and Thai cuisines and traditional practices. It thrives in warm, tropical conditions and is grown in home gardens and small farms, with commercial supply from seasonal field crops and greenhouse cultivation.