Abstract :
Basil, or Sweet Basil, is a common name for the culinary herb Ocimum basilicum (pronounced /b?zl/ or, in the US, /bezl/), of the family Lamiaceae (mints), sometimes known as Saint Josephʹs Wort in some English-speaking countries. Basil, originally from India, is best known as a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in the Northeast Asian cuisine of Taiwan and the Southeast Asian cuisines of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Depending on the species and cultivar, the leaves may taste somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, often sweet smell.
