Middle Eastern Basil Varieties
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Myke Scott
Posted on: April 09, 2010

I’m looking for a type of basil with small leaves that is probably popular with your middle eastern customers. The Iranian’s, for example, pinch off the top two leaves and a bud of each shoot and place them in a bowl with other fresh herbs and serve them as a condiment to be eaten fresh with meat dishes. Which of the basil varieties that you feature in your catalog would you recommend for this purpose.

I can only guess at what may be suitable. Anise basil came originally from Persia and may be close to the taste commonly preferred in that area. it has purplish-green leaves, but they are not unusually small. The new growth would be small-leaved though. The flavour has more licorice in it than sweet basils. If you prefer a small-leaved green basil you might try spicy globe or Pistou basil. Both have a flavour that goes well with meat dishes.

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