Home page » Knowledge » Food » Herbs » Basil

Basil: King of the plant world

Unrivalled aroma and an all-rounder for health

Tomato and mozzarella salad? Spaghetti al pesto? Both these dishes would be missing something without basil! And why’s that? It’s because basil’s incomparable aromas and its fresh scent give dishes that special taste and freshness. But that’s not the only reason why Jardin Suisse has chosen basil for its “Plant of the Year 2021” award. Basil is also greatly in demand due to its health benefits. These include a positive effect on complaints such as stress and mood swings, loss of appetite, inflammation, digestive problems, migraines and sleep disorders – to name but a few. Basil is a true king when it comes to its taste and impact, which is perhaps why its name derives from the Greek “basileus”, which means king.

Fresh basil tastes and works best

Gourmets all agree that basil should only be used as a fresh herb, since many of its qualities are lost when it is dried – especially its large number of aromatic substances. This king of the herbs also loses much of its taste when cooked. For hot dishes, you should only add the aromatic plant right at the end, just prior to serving. The advantage of using basil from your local farm is that it is freshly picked and contains countless nutrients and aroma substances that have not been lost by being transported over long distances. The seeds are sown in May and harvesting is possible after about two months. Whether for a salad or a main dish – no basil tastes better than basil straight from the farm, and you can see and smell that immediately.

All-rounder

This king of plants is used in countless variations. Pesto made from fresh basil can be stored in the fridge for a number of weeks, provided it is covered with a layer of oil. Basil salt is made up of finely-chopped basil leaves mixed with sea salt and dried. Mixing oil with basil makes it much tastier. And basil tea is soothing and relieves cramps in the event of digestive problems.

Universal

Many farms cultivate different varieties of basil. The most well-known is Genovese basil with its tender and large bright-green leaves. There are also exotic varieties, however, including purple basil which tastes very similar to the Genovese variety but has leaves that are purple to dark-violet in colour. The green to reddish leaves of Indian basil are covered in fine hairs, and their aromatic scent is said to keep mosquitoes away, while the aroma of Thai basil is reminiscent of aniseed and liquorice. Shrub basil is particularly robust and a veritable magnet for bees. Found from India to Thailand and right through to Greece, this king of plants is truly universal. And you really don’t have to travel very far at all – you will find many of these “basil countries” just round the corner at your local farm!

Global star

From Switzerland and Europe right over to Asia: basil is one of the most commonly used “spices” almost everywhere. This popular plant is not only used in food, however. The cosmetics industry likes to include essential oil from basil in its fragrance blends and skin care lines.

Multi-talent

Basil goes with almost everything. It lends an outstanding taste to tomatoes, fish, herb sauces, meat, poultry, scrambled egg and potatoes, for example. Adding fresh basil refines vegetable soups and salads. Alongside this, it is used in the production of numerous herb oils and vinegars.

Caution

With all due respect for this king of herbs, however, caution is called for in the case of pregnant women and nursing mothers, who should not consume large quantities of basil. In large amounts, the essential oil it contains can cause cramps in the uterus and induce contractions.

Freshness guarantee

Basil reacts highly sensitively to low temperatures and to being transported over long distances. If you get your basil fresh from the farm store, you won’t be confronted with this problem and can be sure that the plants have been lovingly and optimally cared for by the farmer at all times and have not had to endure any pointless (from an ecological viewpoint too) long journeys. You can also tell that from the taste!

Food pairing

One current trend is “food pairing” with basil – seeing which tastes can be combined to create a new aroma experience. This frequently leads to surprising combinations. It turns out that the aromatic, full-flavoured herb can also be paired with sweet ingredients to make exciting desserts. It’s worth giving it a try!

Basil blossoms

Most basil species and varieties are grown in the field as annual plants, since overwintering proves difficult. If the plants are not constantly trimmed back, long panicles develop, with numerous small white or lilac-coloured flowers which attract plenty of visits from bees and other insects. The flowers can additionally be used as delightful edible decorations.