The name basil comes from an old French word basile. This old world aromatic herb is cultivated the world over. It is a perennial plant that can grow up to about 16 inches tall and it has dark green leaves. The white flowers grow in whorls at the end of leave shoots and at the axis of leaves. Crushed leaves have a sweet aromatic scent and they taste pungently spicy with a hint of clove and mint.
Fresh leaves are more aromatic than dried leaves.
Ancient Greeks hated basil, equating it with scorpions and other unpleasant things. Ancient Romans on the other hand equated it with love and fertility. The Italians use sweet basil a lot usually in dishes that have tomatoes. Thais also love using this herb in their cooking. Chopped fresh basil imparts a sweet scented, minty aroma when sprinkled over baked chicken, lamb and fish.