What is another name for Thai basil
Ava White
Updated on April 15, 2026
Thai basil may sometimes be called chi neang vorng, anise basil or licorice basil, in reference to its anise- and licorice-like scent and taste, but it is different from the Western strains bearing these same names.
Is Thai basil the same as regular basil?
What is the difference between Thai basil and basil? Physically, Thai basil leaves are sturdier, more narrow, and have almost a serrated edge to them. … In terms of taste, Thai basil smells like anise and has a more licorice smell with a slightly spicy taste.
Are there different types of Thai basil?
Thai cuisine utilises three main type of basil: Thai basil, holy basil, and lemon basil. … Thais treat them as separate entities and so these basils are generally not interchangeable with each other. The fresher the leaves, the more you’ll get out of them; the flavours will dull over time.
What is Thai basil in English?
Thai basil, or Asian basil is a type of sweet basil. It is found in Southeast Asia. Thai basil has small, narrow leaves and purple stems. The flower is a mauve (pink-purple) color. One cultivar commonly grown in the United States is ‘Queen of Siam’.Is Thai basil the same as coriander?
Can You Substitute Basil for Cilantro? Basil can work as a substitute for cilantro in a pinch, depending on the dish. However, some of the other varieties of basil may work better compared to common basil. For example, Thai basil has a slightly spicy flavor that works well as a cilantro substitute.
How do I identify Thai basil?
Thai basil is sturdy and compact, growing up to 45 cm (1 ft 6 in), and has shiny green, slightly serrated, narrow leaves with a sweet, anise-like scent and hints of licorice, along with a slight spiciness lacking in sweet basil. Thai basil has a purple stem, and like other plants in the mint family, the stem is square.
Can I substitute Thai basil for sweet basil?
Can You Substitute Sweet Basil for Thai Basil? Sweet basil can work in place of Thai basil in a pinch, but you will lose the kick that Thai basil brings to any dish. Supplementing with other fresh herbs like mint or cilantro can help make up for some of that flavor loss.
What is Thai basil in Malay?
daun selasih. Last Update: 2014-03-26.What type of basil is used in pho?
Thai Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. Thai Basil is an essential ingredient when we make pho, a Vietnamese soup with broth, noodles, meat, and vegetables. But, we also use it liberally in salads, curries, noodle dishes, and stir-fries. The plants are beautiful with deep green leaves and reddish-purple stems and flowers.
What kind of basil do you use for Thai cooking?There are three main types of basil used in Thai cooking: Thai sweet basil (ใบโหระพา bai horapa – this one is often just referred to as Thai basil), lemon basil (ใบแมงลัก bai maenglak), and holy basil (ใบกะเพรา bai kra prao). This Thai basil chicken recipes uses holy basil (ใบกะเพรา).
Article first time published onCan you eat raw Thai basil?
Thai basil is wonderful eaten raw, slivered, and added to salads, both your plain old cucumber-tomato salad or something meaty like northern Thai larb. But its hardy leaves stand up especially well to cooking—their flavor infuses readily into food and the leaves don’t wilt quite as much as Italian sweet basil’s would.
Can you substitute cilantro for Thai basil?
Thai Basil It’s also bright and a bit citrusy, so it’s a great swap-in for cilantro. Traditional basil can also be used a substitute for cilantro — just know it will lend a sweeter, less tangy note.
Can cilantro replace basil?
Perfect as a substitute for basil, cilantro can give pesto sauce an impressive kick and can help to balance Asian dishes such as Thai curries. Cilantro is the leaf of the plant that yields coriander seeds, and it possesses an exotic flavor.
Which basil is good for pesto?
Italian Large Leaf Basil is the most commonly used in pesto. This variety offers a strong flavor for a robust fullness. When using fresh basil to prepare pesto, crush the leaves first to release the flavor, then add them to the olive oil.
Is sweet basil the same as basil?
Sweet basil is a sub-type of common basil with milder or licoricey taste. … Sweet basil leaves can sustain better in high-temperature cooking than common basil, so they are widely used in the South Asian cuisine. Cinnamon basil is another type of basil distinct from sweet or common basil.
Is Thai basil always purple?
Thai basil also differs in appearance from more common basil varieties. Featuring smaller, pointed matte leaves, the plant is easy to distinguish from the glossy plump leaves of the sweet basil. … The veins of the foliage take on a purple hue, making an interesting contrast to the dark olive green leaves.
What is Thai basil called in Vietnamese?
In Thailand, Thai basil is called bai horapa, while in Vietnam, it is known as rau húng quế. Interestingly, rau hung que literally means “cinnamon mint,” though Thai basil is a true basil.
Is cinnamon a basil?
Also known as Mexican basil, cinnamon basil is native to the world’s tropical and subtropical climates. … This basil plant displays dark green leaves and cinnamon colored stems. Cinnamon basil plants contain cinnamite, a compound that gives the herb an intense, spicy aroma and cinnamon like flavor.
Is basil leaf the same as Curry Leaf?
Basil Leaves Basil is quite sweet and floral when it comes to aroma so it really needs some contrast to offer the same combo of tastes as curry leaves do. It has a fresh, aromatic, and minty flavor and adding some lemon juice can help to give it a tang and some lemon zest for the citrusy taste.
What is basil Indonesia?
Lemon basil is the only basil used much in Indonesian cuisine, where it is called kemangi. It is often eaten raw with salad or lalap (raw vegetables) and accompanied by sambal. Lemon basil is often used to season certain Indonesian dishes, such as curries, soup, stew and steamed or grilled dishes.
Is basil a selasih?
SELASIH SEEDS (Biji Selasih) are also known as Sabja or basil seeds. Native to India and other Southeast Asian countries, these seeds are one of the quintessential ingredients in Malaysian, Thai, Indonesian, Singaporean, and Indian cuisines, especially in drinks and desserts.
What is thulasi English?
holy basil, (Ocimum tenuiflorum), also called tulsi or tulasi, flowering plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae) grown for its aromatic leaves.
What is Egyptian basil?
Description: Also known as sweet basil and great basil. Egyptian basil is not as green or sweet as California basil and has a slightly more anise-like flavor. It is, however, a more economical alternative.
Which basil is best for cooking?
1. Sweet Basil. It is the most used and popular basil variety to grow. Sweet basil is used extensively in cooking for its aromatic foliage.
What is Thai basil good for?
Research shows that Thai Basil is high in antioxidants, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties, which is why it has been used in traditional healing since centuries ago. Aside from ingesting Thai Basil, you can also bruise the leaves and inhale its aroma to relieve stress.
Are the purple flowers on Thai basil edible?
Or, you can also sprinkle them on a salad or over pasta to enliven the dish because, yes, basil flowers are edible. They also make great tea! You can expect the blooms to taste similar to the leaves, but with a milder flavor. … Pinch off the flower buds as soon as they emerge.
What does Thai basil pair with?
Fruit and Dessert: watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, apple, peach, nectarine, pear, figs, lemon, lime. Herbs and Seasoning: mint, oregano, chili, garlic, chives, ginger, capers, curry, coconut milk.
What is the English word for cilantro?
Cilantro is the Spanish word for coriander, also deriving from coriandrum. It is the common term in American English for coriander leaves, due to their extensive use in Mexican cuisine.
Is oregano the same as cilantro?
Oregano is one of the principal herbs used on pizza as well as in other Italian sauces. … For culinary use the leaves can be dried in the usual ways, but oregano is one of the few herbs that can also be dried outside in the sun. Cilantro is an annual with slender, erect stems, and the leaves are finely divided.
Is basil and parsley the same?
But what is the difference between basil and parsley? Basil, which has large, rounded leaves, adds an almost minty freshness to both sweet and savory recipes. Parsley has small, jagged leaves and has a more bitter, grassy, and almost spicy flavor that subtly brightens savory dishes.
What herb is closest to basil?
- Oregano. The best substitute for basil? Oregano. Keep in mind: the flavor profile is not the same! …
- Tarragon. The next best substitute for basil? Tarragon. …
- Mint. The last substitute for basil: mint! Like both oregano and tarragon, the flavor profile is not the same.