what's your favorite kind of basil?

jennifer28 · January 10, 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 10, 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 10, 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 10, 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 10, 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

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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

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.

lakelady · January 12, 2012

I always grow Genovese and Large Italian, but last year I grew Spicy Globe Basil and it was great for recipes since my kids aren't keen on big leaves in their food, lol..

And if you like Chocolate Mint, you must try Orange and Pineapple too, awesome for lemonade or iced tea or other adult beverages!

Zana · January 12, 2012

Ditto Nicky....and I'm stuck "manning" a recruiting booth at U of Waterloo's Clubs Days and no mint or naan in sight....sighhhhhhhh....lunch is a long way off and now I'm starving too....lol

Orange and Pineapple are good too. Somebody I know was trying to cross chocolate and orange. Will have to check how that cross-breeding is doing.

Zana

January 10, 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?

January 12, 2012	#12
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 12, 2012	#14
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	I always grow Genovese and Large Italian, but last year I grew Spicy Globe Basil and it was great for recipes since my kids aren't keen on big leaves in their food, lol.. And if you like Chocolate Mint, you must try Orange and Pineapple too, awesome for lemonade or iced tea or other adult beverages! __________________ Antoniette

January 12, 2012	#15
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	Ditto Nicky....and I'm stuck "manning" a recruiting booth at U of Waterloo's Clubs Days and no mint or naan in sight....sighhhhhhhh....lunch is a long way off and now I'm starving too....lol Orange and Pineapple are good too. Somebody I know was trying to cross chocolate and orange. Will have to check how that cross-breeding is doing. Zana Last edited by Zana; January 12, 2012 at 10:10 AM. Reason: added comment

January 10, 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 10, 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 10, 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	#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	#13
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.