Thai Sweet Basil 100g

Thai Name: Bai Holapa

Thai basil (or holapa leaf) has deep green leaves with purplish flower buds and stems. It has an aniseed flavour on top of its sweet basil scent. Add a handful of whole leaves to curries.

Three varieties of the wonderfully fragrant herb – basil – are found in tropical Asia. However the three plants are distinctly different in appearance and flavour. The closest to European or sweet basil is the variety most commonly encountered in the region, especially in Thailand and Vietnam. This basil, which is known as bai holapa in Thailand, has intensely aromatic dark green leaves and purplish flower heads. It is often eaten raw as a herb in Thailand served on a platter of fresh herbs which are added to lettuce wrappers for enclosing spring rolls, or nibbled with raw vegetables and a spicy dip. This basil is also added (often by the handful) to stir-fried chicken or beef, or to curries, particularly in Thailand.

Botanical Name: Ocimum Basilicum.

Product of Thailand

Storage: Thai Sweet Basil to be stored in the fridge for up to a week. However it is important that it's leaves don't touch any of the surfaces of the fridge, so either a cardboard box or the vegetable section of their fridge.

These are just some of the that it is used in: