Basil

Basil is a native species to India and tropical regions of Asia. It is best known as a culinary herb and can be found in many Italian cuisines. There are several species of Basil and the most common is known as sweet Basil. Sweet Basil is commonly used in Italian cuisines. Basil is a fresh herb that is used in most dishes. To retain Basils flavour wait until the last possible moment to add it to your dish as its flavour is quickly destroyed in the cooking process. The leaves often taste like anise and have a strong, sweet smell. Basil is used in many common cuisines still used today, a great example of this is pesto, a common Italian sauce.