Its name derives from Basilisk, a mythical serpent-like creature whose venom was so potent it could kill just by looking. Basil is such a pious plant that is worshipped like a Goddess by almost all the people of the world. In the Hindu Mythology, no food is scared enough to be offered to any God, unless it has a few leaves of basil put on it.
The herb is the leaves of a small bushy plant. It is an annual with leafy stems that give it a bushy appearance. The fresh leaves are about 5 cm long and 2 cm wide. When referred to as ‘whole basil’ it usually means the broken pieces of leaves.
In ancient times basil was used to draw out the poison from insect bites and stings - the crushed or pounded leaves leaf was applied to the area.
Basil has a rich and spicy, mildly peppery flavor with a trace of mint and clove. For the best flavor use fresh leaves, but frozen and dried leaves are acceptable.
Basil leaves
