What is basil?
A: Basil is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints).
In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to
the variety also known as what?
A: Sweet basil or Genovese basil.
Where is basil native to?
A: Tropical regions from Central Africa to Southeast Asia.
In temperate climates basil is treated as a what?
A: As an annual plant, however, basil can be grown as a short-lived
perennial or biennial in warmer horticultural zones with tropical or
Mediterranean climates.
Basil is an annual, or sometimes perennial, herb used
for what?
A: Its leaves.
Depending on the variety, plants can reach what
heights?
A: Between 30 and 150 cm (1 and 5 ft).
Its leaves are richly green and ovate, but otherwise
come in what?
A: A wide variety of sizes and shapes depending on cultivar.
Basil grows a thick, central what?
A: Taproot.
What are its flowers like?
A: They are small and white, and grow from a central inflorescence, or
spike, that emerges from the central stem atop the plant.
Why do the various basils have such distinct scents?
A: Because the volatile aromatic compounds vary with cultivars.
The clove scent of sweet basil is derived from what?
A: Eugenol.
Basil is native to India and other tropical regions
stretching from Africa to Southeast Asia but has now become what?
A: Globalized due to human cultivation.
Most basils are cultivars of what?
A: Sweet basil.
Most basil varieties have green leaves, but a few are
what?
A: Purple, such as, 'Purple Delight'.
Basil is sensitive to cold, with best growth where?
A: In hot, dry conditions.
It behaves as an annual if there is any chance of what?
A: A frost.
Although basil grows best outdoors, it can be grown
indoors in a pot and, like most herbs, will do best where?
A: On a sun-facing windowsill, kept away from extremely cold drafts.
If its leaves have wilted from lack of water, it will
recover if what?
A: Watered thoroughly and placed in a sunny location.
Basil can be propagated reliably from cuttings with the
stems of short cuttings suspended in water for how long?
A: Two weeks or until roots develop.
Once a stem produces flowers what happens?
A: Foliage production stops on that stem, the stem becomes woody, and
essential oil production declines.
To prevent this, a basil-grower may do what?
A: Pinch off any flower stems before they are fully mature.
Once the plant is allowed to flower, it may produce
seed pods containing what?
A: Small black seeds, which can be saved and planted the following year.
Why is basil usually used fresh in recipes?
A: Cooking quickly destroys the flavor.
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
what?
A: Blanched quickly in boiling water.
Basil is one of the main ingredients in what Italian
sauce?
A: Pesto, an Italian sauce with olive oil and basil as its primary
ingredients.
It is also an essential ingredient in what popular
Italian American sauce?
A: Marinara.