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Basil vs Thai basil: What to use and how

By Madhuparna Panigrahi

BETERA, VALENCIA, SPAIN - 2022/08/15: Some leaves of Alfàbegues (basil plant), a culinary plant with a pleasant aroma, during the parade of the offering to the Virgin. On the Day of Our Lady of the Assumption celebration, the city officials announced that two of the Alfàbegues (basil) planted in L´Hort de Les Alfàbegues were measured to have a record-breaking height of 3.24 meters, compared to the previous record measured in 2012 at only 2.86 meters. Staff at L´Hort de Les Alfàbegues have been working for months to cultivate this plant which will serve as an offering for Virgin Mary. (Photo by Xisco Navarro/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
BETERA, VALENCIA, SPAIN - 2022/08/15: Some leaves of Alfàbegues (basil plant), a culinary plant with a pleasant aroma, during the parade of the offering to the Virgin. On the Day of Our Lady of the Assumption celebration, the city officials announced that two of the Alfàbegues (basil) planted in L´Hort de Les Alfàbegues were measured to have a record-breaking height of 3.24 meters, compared to the previous record measured in 2012 at only 2.86 meters. Staff at L´Hort de Les Alfàbegues have been working for months to cultivate this plant which will serve as an offering for Virgin Mary. (Photo by Xisco Navarro/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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There’s constant confusion about whether you should use Thai basil or Italian basil in cooking when a recipe calls for simply “basil”. Let’s clear that once and for all today. There are about 50 to 150 different species of basil and not all are the same. Although both Thai and Italian basils originate from the same genus, Ocimum basilicum, they vary a lot in their texture, flavor, and taste.

So, before you grab a bundle of this aromatic herb at the supermarket, how about learning the difference so you can get the most out of each of the variants?

How is Basil different from Thai Basil?

What we generally call basil is otherwise known as Italian basil or basilico. It’s also called the Genovese basil, after its origin in the Italian province thousands of years ago. It’s also the most common and popular basil variant for culinary uses.

Thai basil, otherwise known as horapha in Thai, on the other hand, is a native herb of Southeast Asia and is a lesser common herb found in western cuisine.

Texture: You can easily differentiate Italian basil from its Thai counterpart, from its bright green color, and the smooth, shiny texture of the leaves. Thai basil leaves are smaller, sturdier, with a slightly fuzzier texture, and mostly purplish.

Thai basil
Thai red curry with nam prik kaeng phet, coconut milk, beef, Thai eggplant, Thai basil.Lomwong 02172022 At 005 /

Flavor/Taste: Italian basil has a sweet, peppery aroma which also results in a sweeter taste when you add it to a dish or eat it directly. Thai basil smells sharper, with a more pungent aroma, and tastes close to licorice, which gives a sharpness to the taste, thus bringing a whole new flavor layer to the dish.

Usage: As the names of each of these variants suggest, Italian basil is best used for traditional Italian recipes, as a garnish, or as an ingredient. The sweet taste and aroma make it perfect for making pesto or adding a handful to pasta. It is also the main ingredient of Caprese salad or sandwich, which is a simple trio of tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves. You can also make herbaceous, aromatic Basil Butter. It blends fresh basil leaves with softened butter, and is great for a wine and cheese night, or to slather on toast and rolls.

Thai basil, needless to say, is primarily used in Thai, as well as Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian cuisines, and some Taiwanese recipes. It is an integral ingredient for traditional Thai curries like red and green curries and is mostly used for stir-fry dishes like pad-ki-mao, also called “drunken noodles”. You can also use it for other dishes like Spicy Basil Chicken Fried Rice, where basil serves as both an ingredient and garnish.

Now, although each of these herbs varies a lot from the other and has its dedicated uses in cooking, you can always get a little experimental and try them in an unusual way. For instance, you can try to use Italian basil in Thai stir-fries, just that it’ll give a very mild, sweeter taste. In fact, many people are known to replace Thai basil with sweet basil, for lack of availability. The reverse, however, might not work. However, you can always try a garnish of Thai basil for a salad and figure out the right balance of aroma and flavors. After all, the more you explore, the more you learn, and that’s the beauty of working with food.

Home/Cooking Techniques