Basil

Livré en sachet refermable

Sans OGM - Sans ionisation -

°°°

Culinary Uses:
Basil brings a delightful sunny aroma to salads, tomatoes, zucchini, vinaigrettes, as well as fish, shellfish, and, of course, tomato sauces that pair wonderfully with pasta. Add it generously to your dishes—its bright flavor is simply delicious!

It’s also a key ingredient in the "Herbes de Provence" blend.

For hot dishes, it’s best to add basil at the end of cooking to preserve its full flavor.

Although this iconic herb of Provençal cuisine evokes the warm South of France, it struggles to grow there and often needs to be imported from regions with a milder, more humid climate.

Who Am I?
Origin: Egypt
Scientific Name: Ocimum basilicum
Common Names: Pistou, royal herb, Roman basil

Basil is a tender plant that requires a warm, sunny, nearly tropical climate (it wilts below 10°C). It’s widely used worldwide but remains especially integral to Asian and Mediterranean cuisines.

A member of the Lamiaceae family, basil has pale to dark green leaves, sometimes purple in certain varieties. Here, the leaves of the annual basil plant are harvested just before flowering and then dried.

In Provence, basil is also called "pistou," after the creamy paste made by crushing fresh basil leaves with olive oil. "Pesto" is a similar preparation that includes crushed pine nuts.

The "common" basil mentioned here is widely used in Mediterranean cooking, especially in Italy, but other varieties of basil are popular in Asian cuisines, such as those in Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

A Bit of History:
Originally from South Asia or Central Africa, basil was first imported to Egypt over 4,000 years ago, then more recently to Rome (around the 2nd century AD) and finally to southern France.