Few things spice up a dish — or, for that matter, an herb garden — like basil. With flavor profiles that include sweet, spicy and even citrusy, the herbaceous staple is a favorite of both growers and chefs.
“Think of a perfectly rich basil pesto, or a topping that turns a pizza into an absolute conversation piece,” says Jekka McVicar, a U.K.-based herb grower and vice president of the Royal Horticultural Society. “Basil is the flavor and fragrance of the summer. Even the scent of it is evocative; there’s nothing better on a warm night than sitting next to a big basil plant.”
