what's your favorite kind of basil?

jennifer28 · January 11, 2012

What kind of basil do you like to grow?

I like genovese. I am thinking of growing sacred basil for the fun of it.

What do you like? Why?

Father'sDaughter · January 11, 2012

I grew both Genovese and Valentino last year. I liked the Genovese for pesto, but the Valentino was my choice for tomato salads and bruschetta topping.

RobinB · January 11, 2012

I really like the purple ruffles basil. It has the same taste as the green, but is very eye catching in a dish with tomatoes, especially if the tomatoes are all different colors! (You didn't think we could talk about something else without even mentioning tomatoes, did you?)

darwinslair · January 11, 2012

Yikes. Favorite? Have not found one I didnt like. Last year I had about 30 Genovese, 20 sweet italian, 4 Thai and 4 Opal. I like the sheer bulk i get from the genovese. I like the classic taste of the sweet italian. I like the way the thai goes with mint, fish sauce, coconut milk and smoking hot chilis, and I put the opal in everything because it tastes good and adds a color other than green.

Tom

Zana · January 11, 2012

Hard to pick a favourite....since I've lost track of how many different ones I've grown over the past 30 years or so. Traditionals are one thing, but I also love the fruit flavoured ones too. I really like the lemon and lime ones....but the flavours of sacred or holy basil is not to be missed if you get a chance. Some interesting nuances to look for in them.

Zana

biscgolf · January 11, 2012

genovese for flavor, nufar for disease resistance.

i grow about a dozen different basils each year.

i disagree that purple ruffles tastes like "regular" basil.

this time of year the hands down winner is greek columnar however because it's still growing.

roper2008 · January 11, 2012

The Genovese for cooking. Siam Queen for ornamental. Mrs. burn's
lemon for it's fragrance. I did buy a little cookbook to lean how to use
most of my herbs for next season.

bustani.mama · January 11, 2012

Last year I had this really cool green with purple flecks that im trying to see if it comes back or not lol that was awesome for pics

Id have to say I love the look of the Saim queen tho there was a fuzzy holy that I got at my greenhouse one year that was amazing to grow --tho I haven't grown too many types compared to what's out there lol

Now ask me my favourite herb and I'll say chocolate mint withought question just because a year withought it growing would be bad luck lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

jennifer28 · January 12, 2012

chocolate mint? does it really taste like chocolate and mint or is it a brown mint?

Germinator · January 12, 2012

Yes, it REALLY does. Last year was my first experience with it and it still is overwintering. It tastes very chocolaty and it is a chef's favorite.

FILMNET · January 12, 2012

Thai Basil or Siam Basil

Tracydr · April 7, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennifer28

chocolate mint? does it really taste like chocolate and mint or is it a brown mint?

Yes, it really does taste chocolatey. Very good in chocolate chip cookies or brownies. I use about 1/2 cup chopped finely.
Always makes me think of people making pot brownies, adding herb to my brownies.

FarmerShawn · April 7, 2013

I just seeded (into mini-blocks) Napoletano Basil, Clove-scented Basil, Cinnamon/Mexican Basil, Sweet Basil, Genovese Basil, Dwarf Basil Blend, Thai Basil, Lemon Basil, and Lime Basil. I have grown the last six before, and love them all, of course for different purposes.

tam91 · January 12, 2012

Genovese and Opal. The purple ruffles doesn't grow as well for me, and the color fades.

nicky · January 12, 2012

I got desperate making spanakapita last weekend when DH forgot the mint - ran out to the unseasonably warm garden & found some chocolate mint still going. It worked very well in the recipe, very strong tasting. I was growing it in planters around the pool. LOVE the smell on a hot summer day.

I love every kind of basil

especially with tomato, garlic & olive oil toasted on Naan bread.

Mmmm... great, now I am starving.

January 11, 2012	#1
jennifer28 Two-faced Drama Queen Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital Posts: 955	what's your favorite kind of basil? What kind of basil do you like to grow? I like genovese. I am thinking of growing sacred basil for the fun of it. What do you like? Why?

April 7, 2013	#13
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I just seeded (into mini-blocks) Napoletano Basil, Clove-scented Basil, Cinnamon/Mexican Basil, Sweet Basil, Genovese Basil, Dwarf Basil Blend, Thai Basil, Lemon Basil, and Lime Basil. I have grown the last six before, and love them all, of course for different purposes. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

January 12, 2012	#14
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Genovese and Opal. The purple ruffles doesn't grow as well for me, and the color fades. __________________ Tracy

January 11, 2012	#2
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I grew both Genovese and Valentino last year. I liked the Genovese for pesto, but the Valentino was my choice for tomato salads and bruschetta topping.

January 11, 2012	#3
RobinB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Near Reno, NV Posts: 1,621	I really like the purple ruffles basil. It has the same taste as the green, but is very eye catching in a dish with tomatoes, especially if the tomatoes are all different colors! (You didn't think we could talk about something else without even mentioning tomatoes, did you?)

January 11, 2012	#4
darwinslair Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lake Minnetonka MN Posts: 229	Yikes. Favorite? Have not found one I didnt like. Last year I had about 30 Genovese, 20 sweet italian, 4 Thai and 4 Opal. I like the sheer bulk i get from the genovese. I like the classic taste of the sweet italian. I like the way the thai goes with mint, fish sauce, coconut milk and smoking hot chilis, and I put the opal in everything because it tastes good and adds a color other than green. Tom

January 11, 2012	#5
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	Hard to pick a favourite....since I've lost track of how many different ones I've grown over the past 30 years or so. Traditionals are one thing, but I also love the fruit flavoured ones too. I really like the lemon and lime ones....but the flavours of sacred or holy basil is not to be missed if you get a chance. Some interesting nuances to look for in them. Zana

January 11, 2012	#6
biscgolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 353	genovese for flavor, nufar for disease resistance. i grow about a dozen different basils each year. i disagree that purple ruffles tastes like "regular" basil. this time of year the hands down winner is greek columnar however because it's still growing.

January 11, 2012	#7
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	The Genovese for cooking. Siam Queen for ornamental. Mrs. burn's lemon for it's fragrance. I did buy a little cookbook to lean how to use most of my herbs for next season.

January 11, 2012	#8
bustani.mama Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: wi Posts: 143	Last year I had this really cool green with purple flecks that im trying to see if it comes back or not lol that was awesome for pics Id have to say I love the look of the Saim queen tho there was a fuzzy holy that I got at my greenhouse one year that was amazing to grow --tho I haven't grown too many types compared to what's out there lol Now ask me my favourite herb and I'll say chocolate mint withought question just because a year withought it growing would be bad luck lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

January 12, 2012	#10
Germinator Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: No. California Posts: 69	Yes, it REALLY does. Last year was my first experience with it and it still is overwintering. It tastes very chocolaty and it is a chef's favorite.

January 12, 2012	#11
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	Thai Basil or Siam Basil

January 12, 2012	#15
nicky Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 600	I got desperate making spanakapita last weekend when DH forgot the mint - ran out to the unseasonably warm garden & found some chocolate mint still going. It worked very well in the recipe, very strong tasting. I was growing it in planters around the pool. LOVE the smell on a hot summer day. I love every kind of basil especially with tomato, garlic & olive oil toasted on Naan bread. Mmmm... great, now I am starving.