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The most common use of basil is in cooking, in foods like tomato sauce's, pesto and vinegar's. But it is also used sprinkled over salads, pizzas and other foods. Majority of the time when used it is broken up into smaller pieces, but unlike other foods instead of being sliced with a knife, basil is torn, as it draws out the flavor.

Ø University of Vermont. Many uses and types of basil. Retrieved on 20/05/18

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Ingredients-
¼ a cup of pine nuts

1 ½ cups of fresh basil

2 small garlic cloves halved

¾ cups of parmesan

5 tablespoons of olive oil

1.     Preheat oven to 180°C. Spread the pine nuts over the baking tray. Bake in oven for 5 minutes or until toasted. Remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes to cool.

2.     Place the pine nuts, basil, garlic and parmesan in a food processor or blender and process until finely chopped. Gradually add the oil in until well combined.

Ø  Taste. (2018). Basil Pesto. Retrieved on 16/05/18.

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By Neeve Sutton

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Believe it or not, basil is actually extremely healthy for your body, basil has only 22 calories per 100 grams, so is considered 'calorie light'. Also In one study, rabbits were exposed to oxidation stress (an increase in damaging free radicals). The rabbits were given 2 grams of fresh basil leaves each day for 30 days, and cardiovascular (heart) and respiratory adaptation were monitored. The researchers measured a significant decrease in blood sugar levels and an increase in antioxidant activity. The basil appeared to help the rabbits deal better with oxidation stress. If basil is consistently consumed it can help level blood sugar levels.

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Ø  To thrive basil needs a sunny   spot with six to eight hours of direct sunlight.

Ø  To know if your basil needs water, stick your finger down into the soil about up to the second knuckle, If the soil feels dry, add water.

Ø  When storing basil, it is best to place in a jar with water (like flowers), place a plastic bag over the top and store in the fridge.

Ø Once Basil is about 40-50 days old you can start to pick leaves.

Ø  The Spruce. (2018). 5 tips for Growing Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

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1.     The basil needs to be planted in a location that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily, the soil should be moist and well-drained.

2.     Plant the seeds approximately one centimeter deep, and twelve centimeters apart.

3.     Make sure to keep the soil moist. When the plant flowers, pick off the flowering.
4.      When Basil leaves begin to develop, pick the leaves any time.

Ø  The old Farmer’s Almanac. (2018). Growing Basil. Retrieved on 14/05/18.

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Ingredients:

Ø  2 cups of caster sugar

Ø  1/2 cup firmly packed basil leaves

Ø  1.5 kg of watermelon peeled and chopped

Ø  2 egg whites

Method:

1.     Put sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan. For three minutes or until sugar dissolves, cook, stirring, over medium heat. Bring to the boil. Remove from heat. Add basil leaves. Stand for 4 minutes to infuse. Sieve basil syrup over a metal bowl and place in the fridge until chilled.

2.     Meanwhile, using a blender, blend the watermelon until smooth. Add chilled basil syrup and blend until combined (you may need to do this in 2 batches depending on the capacity of your processor). Pour into a metal pan and cover. Freeze for 5 hours or until almost firm.

Ø  Taste. (2018). Watermelon and basil sorbet. Retrieved on 20/05/18

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Basil is mainly used in Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese and Italian cuisines. It is in foods such as:

Ø  Pesto

Ø  Pasta sauces

Ø  Salads

Ø  Flavour

Basil is also used in traditional home remedies for:

Ø  Stomach pains

Ø  Head colds

Ø  Worm infections

Ø Wellness Mama. (2018). 10 Uses for Basil Leaf. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

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All over the world basil is used in some sort of medicinal use, such as, in Italy half a teaspoon in water is believed to calm the stomach.  Chewing fresh basil leaves is used to sooth coughing. A warm dry basil tea also is believed to sooth illnesses and basil can be used if you get stung, if you chew up a leaf and apply the basil to the sting it will relieve pain. So next time you are feeling a bit green, try some basil.

Ø  Medical News Today. (2018). Why Everyone Should Eat Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

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Basil, one of the most common herbs, used world wide and tastes great in almost every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not only does basil taste fabulous in food but it can be used in homemade remedies. Basil's botanical name is Ocimum basilicum it is part of the Lamiaceae (large mint) family. It originates from India and in Italy it is known as a love token.

Ø  The Spruce Eats. (2017). The History of Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

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There are four main different types of basil:

Ø  Sweet basil

Ø  Genovese basil

Ø  Purple basil

Ø  Thai sweet basil

Sweet basil works well with Italian dishes and tomato-based dishes.

Genovese basil is flatter and pointier compared to the traditional basil sweet basil but works well with Italian cuisine too.

Thai sweet basil is spicier than other types of basil and is used in Asian foods.

Purple basil is used to garnish dishes due to its rich vibrant colour.

Ø  Morning Chores. (2017). Types of Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

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The first taste of basil has a subtle peppery flavour,then the taste changes into a slightly sweet, aromatic flavour. The aroma of basil is fresh, strong and sweet.

Ø  Gourmet Garden. (2014). Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

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Ø  The Spruce Eats. (2017). The History of Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/the-history-of-basil-1807566.

Ø  Medical News Today. (2018). Why Everyone Should Eat Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266425.php

Ø  Gourmet Garden. (2014). Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

https://www.gourmetgarden.com/en/herb/188/basil

Ø  Morning Chores. (2017). Types of Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

https://morningchores.com/types-of-basil/

Ø  Wellness Mama. (2018). 10 Uses for Basil Leaf. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

https://wellnessmama.com/5505/basil-leaf/

Ø  The old Farmer’s Almanac. (2018). Growing Basil. Retrieved on 14/05/18.

https://www.almanac.com/plant/basil

Ø  The old Farmer’s Almanac. (2018). Growing Basil. Retrieved on 14/05/18.

https://www.almanac.com/plant/basil

Ø  The Spruce. (2018). 5 tips for Growing Basil. Retrieved on 15/05/18.

https://www.thespruce.com/growing-basil-in-containers-848215

Ø  Taste. (2018). Basil Pesto. Retrieved on 16/05/18.

https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/basilpesto-2/5d360bbe-5f39-4025-b4f1-851f05d40b65

Ø  Taste. (2018). Watermelon and basil sorbet. Retrieved on 20/05/18

https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/watermelon-basil-sorbet/02181327-f9e3-4f54-b1cf-a3c283c37010

Ø  University of Vermont. Many uses and types of basil. Retrieved on 20/05/18

https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/basil.html