Hence, you might have heard about Thai and Holy basil asking if there was any significant difference between them. Think for instance to the large variety of stir-fry dishes and the famous Thailand dish called Pad Kee Mao (also known as drunken noodles). 4. Tulsi vs Basil. Thai basil and holy basil are related to each other and both are fixtures in Thai and other Southeast Asian cuisines. Strictly speaking, they are two different leaves meant for different purposes. Thai basil has distinctive purple stems and leaves. It gives a pungent flavor to the dish. 10. Side effects. Discover 500+ spicy recipes and hundreds of pepper profiles, comparisons, cooking tips + more. Thai Ingredient Index. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. https://www.thai-foodie.com/thaifood/what-is-thai-basil-versus-holy-basil Now it grows native all through the eastern tropics of the world. Moreover, it should be pruned regularly once it reached around 30 cm of height. Indeed, differently, from the most common “Genovese” (or the Mediterranean) version, this species of basil is more suitable for cooking and withstand high temperature. Indeed, even if you did not grow it before you might have encountered and eaten in a large variety of dishes. Thai basil will give you a strong aromatic note but none of the spiciness that comes from holy basil. It has a strong licorice and anise note that allows it to stand out in Thai curries and soups. It is commonly used in Indian dishes, and for a wide range of medicinal uses, as well as for religious purposes. Our dream at Holy Basil was to create an exciting diner in the Eastern suburbs where people can relax, come together, have fun and enjoy proper homemade food in a very inclusive environment . The anise note is so strong and so sweet that you can eat Thai basil raw. In Western countries, if available in supermarkets, Thai basil leaves are generally sold at a higher price than the most common Genovese basil due to its well-known and more marketable medical properties. On the other side, the Holy basil has a strong spicy flavor (even stronger than the Genovese type), not sweet as the Thai basil, and it is mainly used to add a herb-peppery flavor to your dish. I fill a glass of hot water and put in 3-4 leaves of Thai basil. Its flowers are also pink-purple creating a great colorful addition to your living room.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_16',111,'0','0'])); Holy basil, on the other hand, shows milder colors with green leaves (lighter than the Thai basil ones) and with light pink flavors. Hence, in terms of availability (and price) of the plant, I did not find any significant difference.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-leader-1','ezslot_17',112,'0','0'])); Regarding growing the plant it should be noted that Thai basil was found to require slightly more attention than Holy basil. If not, well, there are lots of things to do in life that bring happiness... yourindoorherbs is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. The Latin name for Thai basil is Ocimum basilicum; the Latin name for holy basil is Ocimum tenuiflorum. Let’s see what these are and what we can do. However, life brought me to the UK as an engineer. The flavor is more like a combination of black pepper and clove than like the sweeter notes of Thai basil. If you have ever grown culinary herbs you know that many of them are not a fan of low temperatures (yes basil, I am looking at you!). You should also use it in Taiwanese sanbeiji. basil vs. thai basil vs. thai holy basil The ‘regular’ basil that we use most commonly here is Genovese basil, also known as sweet basil. A revered plant in the Hindu religion, Holy basil is also referred to as Sacred basil or Tulsi. Thai basil is used in a large variety of dishes but mainly as a garnish of chicken/beef curry, in warm soups (where it can slowly release its flavor) and chicken salads. What I usually do is a simply Holy basil tea. Thai Holy Basil (Bai Gaprow): Holy basil, known as Tulsior has a complex flavor and it intensifies upon cooking. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'yourindoorherbs_com-banner-1','ezslot_12',110,'0','0'])); Indeed, Holy basil is so widely recognized for such benefits that some companies even produce capsule of “pure” holy basil that you can find in pharmacies as well as on the web. It is easier to make that mistake than you might think since holy basil is sometimes referred to as Thai holy basil. At the moment the only information available is contradictory and based on animal experiments. If you are fascinated by plants as I do and you want some geeky point of view, you are in the right place! Hi Marc, I do think you can use any of the holy basils in thai cooking with various tastes as a result. Holy Basil – Bai Gkaprow by Kasma Loha-unchit. There is another variety that is quickly becoming a favorite, holy basil. * Which is different from holy basil, a more medicinal-tasting herb also used in Thai cooking. Holy basil leaves, which have a spicy, lemony flavor, are used widely in food in Southeast Asia, such as in Thai stir-fried dishes. In the West, however, such dishes typically contain Thai basil instead, which is much more readily available than holy basil. You can read more about its uses here: Creating a Local Materia Medica: Holy Basil. But if one is unable to get Thai Basil leaves, they can use some other Basil leaves as a Thai Basil Substitute.. Holy Basil – Holy basil adds a spicy flavor to Thai dishes. In Sanskrit, the name of Holy Basil is “Tulsi”, meaning “incomparable.” It is considered an incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi, who is … With purple stems whose color intensifies as the plant grows larger, Thai basil's leaves are sturdier than floppy sweet basil, and its slim, pointed shape more closely resembles mint than its … Now, all those leaves are indoors due to "sad" weather conditions. While “krapow” dishes like this are traditionally made with holy basil, Thai basil is more commonly available in Asian grocery stores here in the U.S. Holy basil … As an added bonus, it is late to produce flowers, which often make basil develop a bitter taste. Holy basil leaves, which have a spicy, lemony flavor, are used widely in food in Southeast Asia, such as in Thai stir-fried dishes. Basil varieties all have strong flavor and aroma, and leaves will bruise and emit scent easily. So I start my journey in growing indoor and so I decided to share my knowledge. There are two varieties of holy basil: a white one and a red one. Thai basil has a sweet, anise quality whereas holy basil is found to be spicy and peppery. Indeed, its purple stems and leaves make this a pretty decorative herb for indoors. Since basil's flavor can be overpowering, use it sparingly until you are sure you like the taste of it. The leaves are pale green, thin and tender. The leaves of both are hairy and more delicate than the leaves of Thai basil. Ocimum tenuiflorum is sharp and peppery, with perhaps a touch of lemon.. The leaves are pale green, thin and tender. Holy basil is often used for cooking Thai dishes and its spicy flavor has influenced the common name “hot basil.” This type of basil is much spicier than the other basil varieties. Unlike Thai basil, holy basil isn’t as popular in cuisine. Except for Thai cuisine. In the case of Holy basil, it can grow (although slower) even with as low as 5 hours of direct sunlight a day and grow well in a neutral (pH=7) soil even if not rich in organic matter as the Thai basil one requires (hence it can strive also with less fertilizer). However, to achieve this the plant should be strictly indoor if you are not in a tropical area with a night temperature above 10C and frost-free. However, if you see worms in your indoor or outdoor garden, don’t panic, don’t be... White Spots On Parsley? The reason is that it is difficult to find holy basil outside of Asia, so most restaurants use the more readily available Thai basil in its place. This herb is added to make the food aroma stronger. However, how does it differ from holy basil? eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'yourindoorherbs_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',107,'0','0'])); However, for the majority of us, these are just two unpronounceable names. Hi Marc, I do think you can use any of the holy basils in thai cooking with various tastes as a result. Holy Basil. Yes, a safe bug-free Thai basil plant will not cause any problem to a cat ingesting its leaves. If you need the sweetness of Thai basil, consider combining holy basil with some sweet basil. However, as the “tender” name suggests, these plants are very sensitive to low temperature. Both plants are not typically found in the supermarket (at least in the UK) differently from the most famous Genovese variety. Use Thai basil for a Western version of classic Thai dishes like drunken noodles and in both green and red curries. Moreover, you should be able to provide a constant ambient temperature of 21C (if your house is not warm enough, you might need some mat for the soil). These living things can grow millions of times their original size, they convert air into wood and can end up in your plate feeding you. Every Hindu home in India has a Tulasi plant in the center and many religious ceremonies involve this holy basil. Moreover, Thai Basil has an extra aroma of licorice with spicy touch in addition to the anise background flavor that shares with the Genovese variety. Thai basil taste is milder than Genovese basil. To know them just dive in the below article!eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-leader-2','ezslot_19',114,'0','0'])); Is Holy basil safe for pregnancy? Similarly to Thai basil, also the Holy basil is able to withstand high cooking temperature releasing its flavor when warmed up (opposite to the Genovese basil that is consumed almost raw in the majority of the recipes is required).eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'yourindoorherbs_com-box-4','ezslot_14',109,'0','0'])); Thai Basil and Holy basil can be used in a variety of recipes, however I do personally prefer the Thai basil as gives that licorice taste that allows creating some “extravagant” tasting plate (at least if you are European like me, where dishes are more commonly on the salty/pepper side, and less with a sweet twist). They present quite a few differences in their appereance, taste and culinary use. Also, their leaves present a different taste that makes them suitable for different culinary purposes. As far as I know, Thai basil herb is mostly used for cooking whereas Tulasi is a holy plant in India (hence, it's also called 'holy basil'). With purple stems whose color intensifies as the plant grows larger, Thai basil's leaves are sturdier than floppy sweet basil, and its slim, pointed shape more closely resembles mint than its … Indeed, Thai basil is more demanding in terms of soil and light requirements than Holy basil. It is easier to make that mistake than you might think since holy basil is sometimes referred to as Thai holy basil. Holy Basil: This furry-stemmed plant with strongly scented green or purple leaves is grown for religious and medicinal purposes. link to 6 Worms You Can Find in Your Garden Soil, link to White Spots On Parsley? Note that Thai cooks use holy basil for its spiciness, not for its sweetness; in fact, they refer to it as “hot basil” to distinguish it from Thai basil. Where to find Thai Basil? The Seeds Needs brand is quite good, to be honest, and just for a few dollars it is really worth the price. The most common types are Genovese and Sweet basil which are typically used in Italian cooking and Thai basil that is generally used in Asian cuisine. 7 Causes [7 Solutions], photo guide of Genovese Basil vs Thai Basil. The differences lie in several areas with the key area being flavor. Its leaves are sturdier and stand up to heat better than those of Italian basil, so it can be added during cooking versus as a … Thai Basil is widely used in different Thai dishes. 7 Causes [7 Solutions]. If staring at plants made me an odd person, well, probably I am. Holy Basil (O. sanctum or O. tenuiflorum) Holy basil (also called tulsi) is a well-known herb used as a tea, tincture, and herbal supplement (Cohen, 2014). Can anyone familiar with both describe the difference in taste and culinary uses? What are the risks of taking holy basil? Assuming that you want your little green companion around for as long as possible to have the most generous leaves harvest it is important to know how long such basil types are likely to last indoors. Both Thai and Holy basil can last up to five years. Holy basil is the herb of choice for pad gaprao, the Thai pork stir-fried dish. The plant is about 12 inches tall and the overall shape is more columnar or vertical than sweet basil. Visit our sister site PepperScale. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Holy basil belongs to the Ocimum tenuiflorum species while Thai basil belongs to the Ocimum basilicum. Thai basil leaves are a frequent ingredient in Thai green and red curries, though in Thailand the basil used in drunken noodles and many chicken, pork, and seafood dishes is holy basil. 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