Buy Organic Basil - Florida Spice Shop

BASIL

Buy Now On Sale At Florida Herb House And Spice Shop!! The leaves of basil and its many close relatives are used as medicine. The seeds are also used medicinally in India and Southeast Asia. Though it originates on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East, common basil now grows in gardens all over the world. Three important relatives with similar properties are Ocimum canum (hairy basil), O. gratissimum (basil), and O. sanctum (holy basil).

There are more than twelve varieties of fresh basil cultivated for culinary use, but Sweet and Genoa (best for pesto) are most commonly found at the market. Their broad, fragrant, deep green leaves have a flavor described as a cross between licorice and cloves. Some other varieties, including Lemon, Cinnamon and Persian Anise Basil, have names that reveal their different underlying tastes. Basil is also sold in dried form, but the flavor and aroma of these grayish-green sprinkles bear little resemblance to the fresh leaves. Basil is plentiful in the summer months, but it is available in many markets year-round. Look for firm, evenly colored leaves without black spots or signs of wilting. Trim 1/4 inch off the stems and place in a container of water. Loosely cover the leaves with a plastic food storage bag and place in the refrigerator. Change the water every two days and your basil should last up to a week. If you plan to use your basil within a day of purchasing, you can leave your container out on the counter like fresh flowers.

Basil Herb Picture

If you have more leaves than you can use, try freezing them into "basil ice cubes" for later use. Combine two cups fresh basil and 1/2 cup olive oil in a food processor and pour the mixture into ice cube trays. Once frozen, pop out and store in a freezer bag. When cooking, simply add a cube to your soups, sauces and saut�s for fresh basil flavor anytime

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