Basil is a wonderful and versatile culinary herb.

One of its commonest uses is in the making of pesto sauce. Basil is used in many Mediterranean dishes, having a strong enough flavour to stand up to garlic. Also its pungency intensifies with cooking.

Basil is known as l'herbe royale – the royal herb – derived from the Greek word basilikohn, meaning royal. It is used extensively in tomato dishes.

Basil is used to flavour fish, meat, vegetable dishes and soups, sometimes combined with oregano.

The aromatic and sweet odour of the fresh basil leaves make them a splendid addition to salads, and the flowers may be used as a garnish.