Thai basil has a licorice taste and clove-like scent. It produces small leaves on a purple stem and is delicious to the taste buds and the eyes. Flavourful fresh, dried or frozen in cubes. Hint: Use air temperature water rather than tap water for better production. Water seedlings far from stems (bottom watering highly recommended) especially when young.

Start seeds indoors. Sow 1 cm deep and water from the bottom only to prevent damping off. Keep soil temperatures above 49 degrees.

Basil flourishes best in rich soil. It is advised to start your basil in a hotbed in April and relocate it to a warm border in May planting about 10 inches to 1 foot apart. Basil dies down every year in Canada so it is considered an annual that must be sown every year.

Like many herbs, Basil can be traced back to the Roman era. In Persia and Malaysia, the women of Egypt scattered the flowers along with the resting places of those who had passed on in their families. On the opposite end of the scale, the Greeks maintained that the Basil plant represented hatred and misfortune. They believed that Basil would not grow unless abuse was poured forth at the time of sowing. In Crete, it symbolized love washed with tears and in Italy, it was often presented as a token of love.

Basil has a history of being used for mild nervous disorders and in the form of snuff to alleviate nervous headaches. Sweet basil in particular, when leaves are boiled as a tea is known for arresting vomiting and alleviating nausea. Alongside its healing quality. Basil is great for flavouring soups and stews.