If you’ve purchased dried herbs from the store lately, you
know just how expensive they can be. You practically need
a line of credit from the bank to go shopping for them. You
can easily spend $5 for 2 oz. of practically any dried herb
that may have been processed months ago (or longer) and
has been sitting on a shelf just drying out even further.
Fresh herbs aren’t cheap either, and what isn’t used in the
recipe that night often gets tossed into the trash later.
You can spend all of that money, or you can start your own
little herb garden and within a short period of time be enjoying fresh herbs packed with all of the healthy nutrients longgone from the store-bought varieties. In addition to saving
money and eating healthier foods, planting an herb garden
is fun, and a good way to relieve stress. Herb gardening is
like nature’s Prozac, without any of the negative side effects.
Most herbs can be grown indoors in a small area that
is easy to maintain. No rakes, no hoes, no weeding, no
weather—it’s a beautiful thing. So, which herbs are best to
grow? The kind you like! If you have only a small space in
which to grow, you can have a nice little plot of delicious,
healthy, home-grown herbs that includes rosemary, thyme,
sage, oregano, chives and more, as well as the featured
herb of today’s article: basil, a true superfood.
Herb gardening is
like nature’s Prozac,
without any of the
negative side effects.”
Different Types
The variety of distinctive flavors basil imparts to food
is simply supherb! There are around 60 types of basil
to choose from, depending on who you ask, so finding
one you’d like to grow should be no problem. In fact,
it can even be fun discovering all of the varieties. You
may even choose to grow several types at once. Here is
a short-list to get you started:
• Genovese basil is a culinary favorite, widely
regarded as the best to use in Italian dishes such
as pesto and tomato-basil soups and sauces.
• Lemon basil is a nice complement to dressings
and salads and makes a nice lemon-spiced tea.
• Cinnamon basil’s name says it all, as its flavor
matches its name.
• Purple basil is versatile and is used in a myriad of
international foods, including Thai, Italian and
Mediterranean dishes.
• Thai basil, also known as licorice or anise basil,
is most often used in stir-fries, imparting a sweet
licorice flavor.
• Sweet Thai basil abounds with flavor and its fragrant purple leaves add a nice pop of color to the
garden. It’s a suitable addition to Asian cuisine.
A Little History
Basil is an annual herb that resembles a peppermint
plant and is actually a member of the mint family. The
name basil derives from the Greek word basilikon, from
basilikos, meaning “royal” or “king,” and it is a rightful
moniker. Originating in Africa, Asia and India, basil is now
grown practically worldwide. It has been used as a culinary
complement and pharmaceutical for nearly 5,000 years and
also as colorful ornamentation in landscaping with its various shapes and multi-colored leaves.
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