Thai Basil

Inventory, lb : 63.40
This item was last sold on : 05/31/23

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Description/Taste

Thai Basil is a perennial herb that grows to an average of 30 to 45 centimeters in height and spreads about 30 centimeters wide. The narrow, bright-green leaves have serrated edges and are typically smaller and sturdier than those of common sweet basil. They also boast a fresh and spicy fragrance and sometimes have a slight purple tint. When the plant matures, spikes of lavender to dark-violet flowers grow at the tops of the reddish-purple stems. Thai Basil leaves, flowers, and stems are all edible and offer a bold flavor with spicy-sweet notes of anise and black licorice.

Seasons/Availability

Thai Basil is available year-round.

Current Facts

Thai Basil is botanically classified as Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora and is a member of the mint family. It’s not just a single plant but rather one of three common groupings of basil cultivars: Thai, sweet, and holy basil. Thai Basil plants are cultivated Asian varieties of sweet basil known for their spicier flavor and ability to withstand high cooking temperatures. While many types of Thai Basil are grown worldwide, the most popularly cultivated is Siam Queen, known for its larger leaves and distinct black licorice flavor. Despite belonging to separate species, Thai Basil is often mistaken for holy basil, also referred to as Thai holy basil. Thai Basil offers a more robust, sweet yet spicy anise-like flavor, while holy basil has a more peppery clove-like taste. Another case of mistaken identity stems from the flavor of Thai Basil, which has led to the nickname Licorice Basil. However, that’s not to be conflated with a variety called licorice or Persian basil, a type of sweet basil with a similar licorice-like flavor.

Nutritional Value

Thai Basil has notably high levels of vitamin A, which is beneficial for healthy eyes and skin, and vitamin K, which promotes bone health. It also offers significant amounts of vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium. The seeds are edible, and they pack a nutritional punch of magnesium, calcium, and fiber. Basil is known for its essential oil, which includes compounds like eugenol and limonene that possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

Applications

Thai Basil is most often used fresh or cooked and is a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisines like Thai, Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese. Unlike sweet basil, Thai Basil has sturdy and resilient leaves that stand up to prolonged heat and cooking. Hence, it's well-suited for infusing flavor into broths and soups, from traditional Vietnamese Pho to Thai green or Panang curries. While sweet basil may be used as a substitute in some recipes, Thai Basil is worth seeking out for more traditional dishes that highlight the spicy flavor and sturdy texture, such as Vietnamese spring rolls. Vice versa, Thai Basil may be used in place of common sweet basil to impart a bolder herb flavor with a licorice kick. Thai Basil works equally well in simmered dishes, like Taiwanese braised eggplant, high-heat wok stir-fries, and noodle dishes like pad Thai. It pairs well with chicken, beef, shrimp, tofu, eggplant, potato, bell pepper, tomato, eggs, rice, garlic, chili, oregano, mint, lemongrass, and coconut milk. Fresh Thai Basil leaves can even be used as a garnish and aromatic in cocktails and beverages like lemonade or used in sweet applications like fruit salads, pairing well with mango, pineapple, watermelon, lemon, figs, and stone fruit. As all parts of the plant are edible, try adding the flowers to salads, chopping the stems into rice, or soaking the seeds, similar to chia seeds, to use in pudding, smoothies, or desserts. Store fresh Thai Basil in a glass of water at room temperature after cutting the ends of the stems, like you would a bouquet of flowers, or wrap in a paper cloth and stored in a bag in the refrigerator for a week or two. Thai Basil can also be dried or frozen to prolong its use.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Thai Basil is a kitchen staple in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam, where it is often regarded as a vegetable rather than simply an herb or garnish. In Thailand, Thai Basil is called Bai Horapa, and in Vietnam, it is known as Rau Hung Que, which translates as “cinnamon mint.” Thai Basil stars in pad gra prow, a Thai stir-fry beef dish, and gai pad nam prik pao, a famous Thai dish made with chicken and roasted chili paste. Thai Basil is also often served with larb, a minced meat salad that’s one of the most popular dishes of Laos.

Geography/History

Thai Basil is native to Southeast Asia, though its exact origin is somewhat debated since its history of cultivation dates back approximately 5,000 years. Many believe that it originated in either India or Asia and spread to the Mediterranean via ancient spice routes, however some experts now think it might originally have come from Iran. Today, basil is commonly grown in Italy, France, Egypt, Morocco, California, and other warm climates worldwide. Thai Basil can be grown at home or found at specialty stores and Asian markets.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

InterContinental Vistal Kitchen	San Diego CA	619-501-9400
PureTaco	Carlsbad CA	760-845-3346
La Jolla Country Club	San Diego CA	858-454-9601
Pendry SD (Lion Fish)	San Diego CA	619-738-7000
Botanica	San Diego CA	619-310-6320
Lodge at Torrey Pines Main	San Diego CA	858-453-4420
Open Gym-Working Class	San Diego CA	619-865-3024
Sovereign Thai Cuisine	San Diego CA	619-887-2000
Clara Carlsbad	Carlsbad CA	760-470-9143
Seneca Bar	San Diego CA	619-588-2411
The Plot	Oceanside CA	422-266-8200
Mabel's Gone Fishing	San Diego CA	619-228-9851
Kingfisher	San Diego CA	619-861-8074
Top of the Market	San Diego CA	619-234-4867
Urban Kitchen Catering	San Diego CA	619-276-8803
Hotel Palomar-Salt Box Banquets	San Diego CA	619-515-3003
Firefly Beach	San Diego CA	619-222-6440
Mak Mak Organics	Oceanside CA	858-740-4217
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District	El Cajon CA	619-644-7585
Saiko Sushi-Coronado	Coronado CA	619-435-0868

the other 75...

Zel's Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-755-0076
Bar Same Same	Carlsbad CA	760-470-9143
The Shores	La Jolla CA	858-459-8271
Addison Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-350-7600
Pacifica Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-792-0505
Higher Grounds Coffee + Cafe	San Diego CA	831-247-5395
Lumi (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-955-5750
Knotty Barrel- Rancho	San Diego CA	858-484-8758
Jeune Et Jolie	Carlsbad CA	858-231-0862
Toast Catering	San Diego CA	858-208-9422
Stone Brewing-Liberty Station	San Diego CA	619-269-2100
Hoover High School	San Diego CA	619-549-3364
La Costa Glen South	Carlsbad CA	760-704-1000
Fort Oak	San Diego CA	619-795-6901
Georges at the Cove	San Diego CA	858-454-4244
Common Theory	San Diego CA	858-384-7974
The Bellows	San Marcos CA	619-395-6325
Zeca Trading Co.	San Diego CA	619-410-1576
The Pearl Hotel	San Diego CA	877-732-7573
Farm Fresh Meals	Vista CA	760-707-2383
The Islander (Bar)	Coronado CA	619-522-6890
Duke's La Jolla	La Jolla CA	858-454-1999
C 2 C	San Diego CA	619-972-9345
Fish Market Downtown	San Diego CA	619-232-3474
Jack Monaco Creative Consulting	San Diego CA	619-318-2633
Nobu	San Diego CA	619-814-4124
The Wise Ox	San Diego CA	619-851-0672
Grass Skirt	San Diego CA	858-412-5237
Under Belly-Uptown	San Diego CA	619-269-4626
ESCA BLU	San Diego CA	760-840-1129
Artifact at Mingei	San Diego CA	619-846-2164
Saiko Sushi-North Park	San Diego CA	619-886-6656
San Diego Yacht Club	San Diego CA	619-758-6334
Pendry SD (Nasons)	San Diego CA	619-738-7000
Sbicca	Del Mar CA	858-481-1001
AToN Center Inc.	Encinitas CA	858-759-5017
Deeply Nourished	San Diego CA	808-489-7366
Harney Sushi Oceanside	Oceanside CA	760-967-1820
Relic Bageri LLC	San Diego CA	619-335-6328
Harney Sushi	San Diego CA	619-295-3272
Olivewood Gardens -Donation	National City CA	619-434-4281
Stake Chophouse & Bar	Coronado CA	619-522-0077
Morgan Run Resort and Club	Rancho Sante Fe CA	858-759-5473
Trust Restaurant	San Diego CA	609-780-7572
Toast Cafe	San Diego CA	858-208-9422
UPAC Enterprise Center	San Diego CA	6192557644
Marriott Courtyard - Broadway	San Diego CA	619-446-3008
Loving Hut	San Diego CA	619-855-5674
Lauberge Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-259-1515
Hotel Republic San Diego	San Diego CA	951-756-9357
Kettner Exchange	San Diego CA	909-915-9877
Animae (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-925-7908
Sacred Sons	Jamul CA	970-619-0711
Viejas Casino Ginger Noodle	Alpine CA	702-401-0455
Paradisaea Restaurant	La Jolla CA	732-915-6669
Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center	National City CA	619-434-4281
Thai One On	Carlsbad CA	760-500-8674
Craft and Commerce Bar	San Diego CA	619-269-0288
La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen	Carlsbad CA	760-930-7063
Misadventure & Co.	Vista CA	413-668-6895
Shimbashi Izakaya	Del Mar CA	858-523-0479
Convention Center East	San Diego CA	619-525-5832
Sheraton Carlsbad (Banquets)	Carlsbad CA	760-827-2400
Secret Sister	San Diego CA	619-281-0718
Harvest Kitchen	Vista CA	619-709-0938
The Wild Thyme Company	San Diego CA	858-527-0226
Fishery	San Diego CA	858-272-9985
Dija Mara 2021	Oceanside CA	760-231-5376
Animae	San Diego CA	619-925-7908
Coast Catering	Escondido CA	619-295-3173
Harvest Kitchen (Corp Lunch)	San Marcos CA	619-709-0938
Secret Sister (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-281-0718
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-381-8289
SB Kitchen	Solana Beach CA	610-717-7217
JRDN Restaurant	San Diego CA	858-270-5736

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Thai Basil. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Jam's Thai Food and Cooking Blog		Thai Basil Fried Rice
Gimme Some Oven		Thai Basil Chicken
Sippity Sup		Pear Lemonade with Thai Basil
Wine and Glue		Thai Basil Fried Rice
The Healthy Maven		Thai Salmon Salad
The Woks Of Life		Eggplant with Thai Basil & Chicken
The Woks Of Life		Thai Basil Pesto Pasta with Spicy Shrimp
One Green Planet		Stir Fried Thai Basil with Tofu and Eggplant
The Woks Of Life		Thai Basil Beef (pad gra prow)
Slender Kitchen		Thai Basil Ground Beef Bowl

the other 8...

Picture The Recipe		Thai Basil Chicken Phyllo Rolls
Delicious Obsessions		Fermented Thai Basil "Pesto"
Food Network		Thai Basil Tofu Lettuce Cups
How To Feed A Loon		Stir-Fry Chicken With Broccoli And Mushrooms
The Kitchn		Coconut and Thai Basil Ice Cream
Flying on Jess Fuel		Thai Basil Pesto
Cuesa		Sharlyn Melon with Boccalone Lardo and Torn Basils
Honestly Yum		Buddha's Hand and Thai Basil Cocktail

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