Basil is King

Basil is king! Its importance to cuisine cannot be overstated: try to find a culture in the old world where it does not feature prominently. And, oh the subtleties of flavor within its leaves tease the palate: pepper, mint clove, cinnamon, lemon, and anise. The color palette makes a basil garni a feast for the eyes as well, ranging from reds to yellow, green and purple with lovely variegations in Rorschach patterns on the leaves. Of the over 40 known varieties, “Sweet” basil is the most common and widely grown. This variety, Ocimum basilicum “fragrant king” has a spicy aroma that blooms as soon as the delicate leaves are merely bruised. It is one of the earliest cultivated foodstuffs, dating back to over 5000 years in the Indian subcontinent; it is often placed in the mouth of the dying to insure they reach heaven. It has immense cultural significance in other societal and religious customs: ancient Mediterranean cultures believed it would open the gates to heaven, so it is found with mummies; Greek Orthodoxy uses it to bless holy water; it was said to be found around the tomb of Christ after his resurrection; some European lore avers that it is the symbol of Satan. So, choose Indian, Asian, Italian, Greek, African; pick a continent, pick a culture, pick an age, pick a cuisine; just pick some and put it in your recipe and you’ll be glad you did.