View source for Lemon basil

{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Mrs. Burns' Lemon basil]], a cultivar of ''Ocimum basilicum''}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Kemangi.jpg
| taxon = Ocimum × africanum
| authority = [[João de Loureiro|Lour.]]
| synonyms = * ''Ocimum americanum'' var. ''pilosum'' <small>(Willd.) A.J.Paton</small>
* ''Ocimum basilicum'' var. ''anisatum'' <small>Benth.</small>
* ''Ocimum basilicum'' var. ''pilosum'' <small>(Willd.) Benth.</small>
* ''Ocimum citriodorum'' <small>Vis.</small>
* ''Ocimum graveolens'' <small>A.Br.</small>
* ''Ocimum petitianum'' <small>A.Rich.</small>
* ''Ocimum pilosum'' <small>Willd.</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|title=''Ocimum africanum'' Lour.|url=https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/74G85|access-date=2021-06-27|work=WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families|publisher=Catalogue of Life}}</ref>
}}

'''Lemon basil''', '''hoary basil''',<ref>{{citation |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=463843 |title=USDA GRIN Taxonomy |access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> '''Thai lemon basil''',<ref>Darlene Anne Schmidt {{google books|9Vmvq8SRLyMC|Thai Cooking: A Step-by-Step Guide to Authentic Dishes Made Easy|page=35}}</ref> or '''Lao basil''',<ref name=Culloty>Dorothy Culloty {{google books|x6cEmQQcIikC|Food from Northern Laos: The Boat Landing Cookbook|page=34}}</ref> (''Ocimum'' × ''africanum'') is a [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between [[basil]] (''[[Ocimum basilicum]]'') and American basil (''[[Ocimum americanum]]'').<ref>[https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=463843 Germplasm Resources Information Network]</ref><ref name="ffnl"/><ref name="f&w"/><!--yes, this name is correct; see the genus page Ocimum-->  The [[herb]] is grown primarily in northeastern [[Africa]] and southern [[Asia]] for its fragrant lemon scent, and is used in cooking.

Lemon basil stems can grow to {{convert|20–40|cm|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} tall. It has white [[flower]]s in late summer to early fall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are similar to basil leaves, but tend to be narrower with slightly serrated edges. [[Seeds]] form on the plant after flowering and dry on the plant.

Lemon basil is a popular herb in [[Arabic cuisine|Arab]], [[Indonesian cuisine|Indonesian]], [[Philippine cuisine|Filipino]], [[Lao cuisine|Lao]], [[Malay cuisine|Malay]], [[Indian cuisine|Indian]], [[Persian cuisine|Persian]] and [[Thai cuisine]].


== Uses ==
=== Culinary ===
In [[Lao cuisine]], (where it is called ''pak i tou'',<ref name=Culloty/>) lemon basil is used extensively in soups, stews,<ref name=Culloty/> curries and stir-fried dishes as it is the most commonly used type of basil in Laos.<ref name="ffnl"/> Many Lao stews require the use of lemon basil as no other basil varieties are acceptable as substitutes. The most popular Lao stew called ''or lam'' uses lemon basil as a key ingredient.

Lemon basil is the only basil used much in [[Indonesian cuisine]], where it is called ''kemangi''. It is often eaten raw with salad or ''[[lalap]]'' (raw vegetables) and accompanied by ''[[sambal]]''. Lemon basil is often used to season certain [[Indonesia]]n dishes, such as curries, soup, stew and steamed or grilled dishes. In [[Thailand]], Lemon basil, called ''maenglak'' ({{langx|th|แมงลัก}}), is one of several types of basil used in [[Thai cuisine]]. The leaves are used in certain [[Thai curry|Thai curries]] and it is also indispensable for the noodle dish ''[[khanom chin]] nam ya''. In the [[Philippines]], where it is called ''sangig'', particularly in Cebu and parts of Mindanao, Lemon basil is used to add flavor to ''law-uy'', which is an assortment of local greens in a vegetable-based soup.  The seeds resemble [[chia seeds]] after they have been soaked in water and are used in sweet desserts.  It is also used in North East part of India state Manipur. In Manipur, it is used in curry like pumpkin, used in ''[[singju]]'' (a form of salad), and in red or green chilli pickles. The Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribe of Meghalaya also use it in their cuisine. The [[Garo people|Garos]] call it ''panet'' (pronounced phanet). They use it to prepare cold sauce (Ind. Chutney) with added ingredients like fermented fish, chile, onions sometimes roasted tomatoes. In Tripura, it is known as ''banta'', and is used by Tripuri community to make ''banta mosdeng'', a fermented fish-based spicy chutney.

In [[Nigerian cuisine]], lemon basil is referred to as ''partminger'' or curry leaf,<ref>https://foodbay.tv/nigerian-curry-leaf</ref> not to be confused with the unrelated [[curry tree]] ''Bergera koenigii'' cultivated in the Indian subcontinent.

==Cultivation==
Lemon basil requires the same care as other basil varieties. It is a [[tropical]] [[plant]], that should be in a spot receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. It is actually quite hardy and can sometimes grow continuously given only water, but the flavor will be at risk if not given any [[fertilizer]], chemical or organic. It can really grow in a matter of weeks. It should be watered whenever the topmost part of the [[soil]] is dry. At this time, the plant will wilt, but will be back to normal once watered.

Basil should never reach flowering during the harvesting periods. If given a chance to [[flower]], its flavor will be sacrificed and the leaves become smaller, dry and leathery. Once the flower clusters form, they should be removed so the plant will continue its vegetative growth. It is, however, a good idea for it to be left to flower and set seeds that will be collected during fall, because the cold winter frosts will kill the basil plant anyway. Harvesting the seeds two weeks before the last [[frost]], and sowing them indoors in the spring will provide next year's harvest.

Harvesting once a week for each plant will make it bushy due to the side [[Shoot (botany)|shoots]] that will develop. The plant should never be completely defoliated. [[Plant propagation|Propagation]] is achieved by sowing seeds and from stem cuttings. Seedlings will reach {{cvt|6|in|mm|order=flip}} in 3–4 weeks and should be harvested at this time to let them branch out. Stem cuttings will gain [[root]]s after they have a week of being soaked in water. The setup is simply a [[Mason jar]] filled with water and a square of mesh with holes large enough to hold the plant in place while the roots grow. As many cuttings as the gardener wishes can be planted, preferably the most vigorous stems that can be found because they will root faster. The water should be changed every few days. After 2–3 weeks, the roots will be long enough for the cuttings to be transplanted into pots or planted in their permanent position to keep in the [[garden]].

==References==
<references>
<ref name="ffnl">{{Cite web| url=http://www.foodfromnorthernlaos.com/2010/08/04/basil/ | title=Basil |publisher= Food from Northern Laos | access-date=31 May 2013 | date=4 August 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="f&w">{{Cite web | url=http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/laos-food-searching-for-a-lost-cuisine | title=Food & Wine Laos Food: Searching for a Lost Cuisine | access-date=31 May 2013 | publisher=Food & Wine | date=February 2011 | archive-date=3 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603203710/http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/laos-food-searching-for-a-lost-cuisine | url-status=dead }}</ref>
</references>

==External links==
*[http://www.foodfromnorthernlaos.com/2010/08/04/basil/ Basil]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q15347492|from2=Q13407978}}

[[Category:Ocimum]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Lao cuisine]]
[[Category:Thai cuisine]]
[[Category:Food plant hybrids]]