What does basil taste like

It is astounding that so many of our most popular and valuable herbs — including what I would consider the majority of the finest culinary herbs — are in the mint family. They include basil, thyme, lavender, lemon balm, oregano, sweet marjoram, rosemary, sage, savory, summer savory, anise hyssop, and germander. What Herb looks like mint? The green leaves of lemon balm have the scent of lemon with a hint of mint, with leaves that look like oversized mint — no surprise, since lemon balm is part of the mint family.

How do I use basil mint? You could use basil mint in the same way that you use basil and mint or in dishes where you would use them in combination. Treat it in the same way as basil and mint. Try it this way: Add to cous cous salad with lemon and serve with spiced lamb. Add to a refreshing glass of Pimms. Basil mint pesto. What can I use instead of mint? OR - 1 teaspoon mint from a herbal mint teabag.

OR - 1 drop peppermint oil. OR - For an alternate flavor, try substituting 1 tablespoon chopped parsley or chopped fresh basil. What is basil related to? What is in the mint family? Mints Menthaceae. Why does my basil taste like aniseed? The flavors could have concentrated if you had a lot of heat or not much rain.

Try watering them more deeply for a few days before you harvest. This is not a problem. In contrast, the fresh stuff is best for salads and presentation. Different types of basil are used in various cuisines. Each basil has its unique taste and smell that adds aroma and unique flavor to food and drinks. Here I mentioned the 10 most commonly used basil and what does basil taste like in different cuisines.

The most common basil species is Sweet Basil Ocimum basilicum. It is sweet and savory, with a hint of anise, pepper, and mint. It has a milder flavor than Thai basil.

This herb imparts a sweet and aromatic flavor to food. Indeed, it tastes great! Pesto is made from basil leaves, and it adds a distinctive flavor to pizza, pasta, salads, and other dishes.

Also, this herb is used in Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese cuisine. Cardinal Basil is the ornamental herb in your spice garden. It is the most enchanting variety of the basil family. With thicker leaves and a licorice taste, it is spicier than traditional basil.

You get a robust anise-licorice taste when you eat it. Its spicy scent makes it a popular ingredient for flavoring vinegar and oils. Moreover, its torn leaves and powder basil uses in stews and soups to add intense flavor. Basil leaves with ruffled edges are aesthetically more pleasing. It is rich in taste and fragrance.

Its tangy flavor makes the tongue happy. Its taste is more complex than most basil, with multiple anises, cinnamon, citrus, etc. It is trendy in the culinary world. Also, its sauce goes perfectly with tomato-based dishes.

It works well in pasta dishes due to its mild flavor and delicate taste. Cinnamon basil is an aromatic species of the basil family. Gardeners can use it as an ornamental plant that emits a spicy, fragrant scent. In cinnamon basil, methyl cinnamate is the chemical compound that imparts the cinnamon flavor. The leaves and flowers of cinnamon basil are used to make beverages teas, drinks and baked goods pie, cookies. Additionally, it is used in jellies, salad dressings, vinegar, and pasta to add flavor.

Cinnamon basil is used outside the kitchen for decorative arrangements and potpourri. Asian cuisines mostly incorporate cinnamon basil into fried rice, marinades, and noodles. It is even tossed with grilled veggies. African blue basil is an ornamental herb plant that can grow up to four feet tall.

It features gorgeous floral arrangements. It gives off a distinctive odor of cloves, mint, pepper, and camphor. Moreover, its succulent, chewy leaves are characteristic of African blue. Its taste notes are musk, cloves, and methanol, giving it a herbal, woody, or earthy taste—African blue basil blossoms into lavender flowers. Ideally, Blue African Basil is used as a flavoring or garnish. These leaves are also used to designate pesto, chimichurri sauce, salad dressings, and dips.

They can also be layered on bruschetta, sprinkled over soups, and thrown into salads. Among the basil, spicy basil is the dwarf herb. It has a shape similar to that of small boxwood. Moreover, its intense citrus scent with notes of mint is a characteristic of its fragrance and flavor.

It would help if you used it fresh on salads. It imparts a delicious taste and aroma to salads. Apart from this, it is best to garnish fish and fruits. Also, it enhances the flavor of sauces and veggies as well. Lettuce basil is an Italian kind of basil that tastes like sweet basil. It has a mild peppery taste with a sweet smell. Unlike its cousins, it has larger leaves used for lettuce wraps, stuffing, lasagna sheets, and making pesto.

In Asian cultures, holy basil is the most sacred plant. Aromatically, it gives off a pleasantly musky, clove-like fragrance, slightly herbaceous or bitter green scent, refreshing to the nostrils. As for the taste, it has a bitter, spicy, and sweet note. Indeed, it has a sweet, pleasing taste and aroma.

In the said study, scientists made use of basil extract and applied it to models of skin in the laboratory. The results found that fusing topical creams with basil extracts may positively affect skin hydration and reduce wrinkling and roughness of the skin. Basil contains antioxidants like beta carotene and anthocyanins. Antioxidants are necessary to remove free radicals from our body. They can also be results of poor dietary choices and smoking.

On the other hand, antioxidants are compounds which help remove these molecules from our bodies. Avoiding the free radicals from building up, which can cause oxidative stress that may later on lead to cell damage and other possible diseases. It is good to include basil in your diet as it may provide you with benefits and it can basically add a burst of flavor to everything. Do note, however, that the studies mentioned solely focused on basil extracts and not the addition of the herb to a certain food or diet.

Also, many of these investigations involving the herb made use of holy basil or tulsi, one variety that is not used in cooking. Basil is indeed a robust herb that gives any dish an explosion of flavors.

Skip to content Basil, also known as Ocilum basilicum, is an herb in the mint family; along with thyme, rosemary, and oregano. About The Author.