Watching America's Test Kitchen last weekend, they stressed that they used a different type of basil in cooking pasta sauces. It was not the typical large-leaf sweet basil, but a smaller-leafed variety with purple flowers. It's supposed to have a more intense flavor and the flower buds are also used in cooking and salads. I've looked through all my seed catalogs and can't find any similar except for Thai basil, which I'm sure wasn't it.
Italian Basil
I'm not an expert, however, I am aware of a type of basil they call Mexican Spice Basil (AKA Cinnamon Basil); it has lavender flowers with dark green glossy leaves. I noticed it in a garden seed catalog: www.kitchengardenseeds.com. Snug
I don't know the basil you're describing, but my favorite culinary basil is an intensely flavored one that I started growing when a friend brought seeds back from Italy. I've sent out a lot of "Italian Genovese Basil from Italy" seeds, and yes does have larger crinkled leaves.
I did grow a very intense "Hot & Spicy" basil last year that I've talked about elsewhere, but its flowers were white rather than purple.
I'm trying to think of a basil with purple flowers other than Thai...
Oh, I do have seeds this year for 'Blue Spice' basil, and it's got purple blooms according to the description. Its "lemon vanilla" scent doesn't sound like something I'd want in Italian style sauces, though.
I'm thinking that the chef on this show (which was actually The Victory Garden) either was confused, or is using a Thai basil in his Italian recipes! I've looked everywhere for a purple-flowering Italian basil, and I'm convinced there isn't any such thing. Since there's a very good chance I'll be getting to Italy this summer, I'm definitely going to check everywhere in the markets!
critterologist: Was the "Italian Genovese Basil from Italy" what your friend brought back from Italy?
are you sure they weren't just using a spicy globe variety? That's usually what I see them using on cooking shows, but I agree with Critter, its not my favorite culinary basil either--but the leaves are tiny.
Yes, that's the one. Do you have it? I unfortunately didn't get seed from mine last year, so I just have a limited amount of seed from 2007. But I know a lot of people have been growing it the past couple of years, and hopefully some of them have saved seeds!
Spicy Globe, Minette, Pistou, etc. all have white blooms, as far as I know. I did recently see a "dwarf basil with pink blooms" on a list, but I don't know anything about it.
were you talking to me about did I have it? I've got tons of it. Dmail me your addy and I'll send you some right over in a bubble mailer. Do you have any cinnamon basil? That's the one I didn't get around to saving seeds of this year.
Sorry, we all posted at once! I was actually responding to Hoosier's question about which Italian basil I was talking about. I didn't save any Cinnamon Basil last year either... and more bummer, I had a whole pile of Magical Michael seed that went *poof* and disappeared somewhere in the house!
I've got seeds for myself and to share at Saturday's swap, but I don't have enough seeds to do a general SASBE offer for basils this year. I was thinking of hosting some sort of group purchase and including seeds of a couple that I did get from my garden this year as a bonus.. but I ran out of steam with the pepper co-op and just ended up purchasing a few bulk basil packs, figured I could put some extras on the Marketplace.
Well, I guess this mystery basil with large leaves and purple flowers will have to remain so, unless I can find one in Italy! I'm really thinking that it was just a Thai basil he said he was using.
Thanks for the input, everyone. I'll let you know if I ever find it.
Critter, Your basil, was the first seed I ever received from a DG subscriber as part of your SASBE, was one of the tastiest ever, but I didn't properly mark the seed I collected. I have a few seeds left from the original you sent me in 2008. It sounds like you think the seeds may still be viable. I will start them indoors. I've referred to it over and over as 'Jill's Friendship Basil'. Pam
I like that, Pam! :-)
Basil seeds are generally good for 4-5 years in my experience, as long as they stay dry and relatively cool (room temp is fine, a hot attic isn't).
I have a "Friendship tomato" from the same friend who brought the basil seeds back for me... we passed it back & forth until we forgot the name, and then we figured out which packet it might have come from -- a packet from Italy marked "Pomodoro." I proudly announced that I'd figured out the real name of this variety, and Carolyn tried hard not to snicker when she informed me that "pomodoro" means "tomato" in Italian. LOL
Too funny Critter ^_^