Fresh basil - tastes of aniseed?

[Binky Profile]

We are having spaghetti bolognese for dinner. There is a fresh basil pot plant on the kitchen window sill. Having washed some leaves, and sprinkled them on the bolognaise, they taste very strongly of aniseed. What is going on?

[Badger's Mate Profile]

Does it look like normal basil? Thai basils taste more of aniseed to me.

[Binky Profile]

It looks like perfectly normal basil to me. Large green leaves, in a supermarket pot for approx. £1.

[Stokey Sue Profile]

There are dozens of slightly different varieties of basil, I bought a pack of five types of seed this week. I guess some of them are more citrus and some more aniseed?

Thai basil (pointy leaves) and Greek / Provençal basil (small leaves, bushy) always seem a bit aniseed to me, as does dried basil, though that might be because the Greek stuff dries more successfully thuan classic Genoese


Basil collection
https://www.sowseeds.co.uk/collections/herb-seeds/products/herb-seed-collection-basil-bush

[Alexandria Profile]

We grow Genovese Basil from Liguria and have been for years.

It does not resemble any aniseed aroma at all ..

Our uses for it are predominately Insalata Caprese and Pesto alla Genovese ..

[Stokey Sue Profile]

There is also the fact that people describe tastes differently

People tell me tarragon tastes aniseed, but not to me. Fennel does a bit.

However, if basil doesn’t normally taste of aniseed to you, it’s a bit odd

[Alexandria Profile]

Sue,

Fresh fennel bulb has a very mild light lovely aniseed aroma and taste.

However, Ligurian Genovese Basil does not have the an aniseed aroma or taste to us.

It has an aroma surely ..

But we would not describe it as aniseed as in fresh Fennel Bulb.

We all have our nuances !

Have a nice wkend.

[Stokey Sue Profile]

Member 461

We all know that Genoese basil does not usually taste of aniseed

That is the point

So why does Binky’s new plant have an aniseed flavour?

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

I find the basil pots have a bitterer taste when they have been picked a lot.
I pick right from the bottom of the stem - saw a tip not to pick the leaves, but to snip the stem.
But as it gets on a bit, the basil goes a bit unpleasant, and I'll swap it for a new one.

What I'm describing is a metallic taste = might be construed as aniseed=y?

I really like the way basils are so different from different countries. AZCook sent mexican basil here, and it's deliciously pungent, in an oregano type of way.

Thai basil to me is mild and minty.
But that might have been just the one I bought from an Asian supermarket.

[Binky Profile]

I don't snip with scissors or take from the bottom of the plant.

I tear the larger top leaves as this was the received wisdom when I first started cooking with fresh basil. It releases a wonderful aroma I find.

One thing I have learned is that, in future, I will discreetly sniff the plant before purchase. Aniseeds will be put back on the shelf!

[Alexandria Profile]

Sue,

Binky has not stated that her Basil was Ligurian Genovese Basil .. From her description, I doubt it was from Liguria.

Perhaps it is:

1) A mixed variety of several seeds were planted in the same pot, and maybe she is trying to describe it as a "mineral" or "metallic" (Gil the Painter´s Description) essence
and bouquet verses aniseed.

2) Could possibly be the soil that the plant was planted in too ! ?

3) Another possibility is: "False" Basil as in Genetically Modified.

Binky: Did it have aromas like Fennel ?


Have a nice day. Gorgeous here today with 21 Degrees & Sunny, Sunny.

[Joanbunting Profile]

To me basil tastes of, well, basil However there are, as others have said so many varieties and each is slightly different. I grow 3 types - large leaved for use in fresh tomato dishes, small leaved which is the traditional sort for making pistou/pesto and red leaved for other salads - because it looks pretty as well as tatsing good.

[karadekoolaid Profile]

Basil.jpg

This is the basil I grow in the garden. I imagine it´s a version of Thai purple basil. It definitely has an aniseed flavour to it. I´ve just snaffled a couple of leaves.
There are at least 11 varieties of Basil, according to my Herbs book; and probably a whole load more, according to Gernot Katzer.

[Stokey Sue Profile]

That certainly looks like Thai basil

Lizzie, schmoofaloof from the BBC board has a great recipe for prawns stir fried with loads of Thai basil, the recipe also includes onion, tomato, fish sauce, oyster sauce and yellow bean paste. I’m not really keen on yellow bean paste and I’m trying subs last time I used Korean soy bean paste which was better to my taste, I find yellow bean paste a bit medicinal

[Badger's Mate Profile]

Most varieties of basil are conspecific (Genovese and Thai basil are both Ocimum basilicum) or congeneric (holy basil is O tenuiflorum) and there are common hybrids. I wonder if the mystery plant has resulted from cross-pollination. It's not an uncommon issue. The RHS recently delisted Gardener's Delight toms from its AGM because seed ostensibly of this variety has become more variable and less reliable, iirc.

[jeral Profile]

I adore the smell of ordinary basil, so that'd be my first "test", i.e. I wouldn't expect it to smell of aniseed or liquorice. If it tasted "funny", could it be toothpaste or mouthwash, other flavourings or even some medicines/tablets that make food taste funny?

Basil from supermarkets seems variable to me. Most I buy in a living pot die with a couple of days (leaves go black) although one I managed to keep successfully for a good few months.

I decided I'd buy some packet seeds this year for windowledge plants and see what transpired. Probably about the right time now...

[Pampy Profile]

I must be a bit odd - I love the smell of basil but really dislike the taste.

[WWordsworth Profile]

My sister is like that with coffee.

[karadekoolaid Profile]

My sister is like that with everything