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Basil

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a popular herb having cooking and medicinal uses. In cooking, the herb is often used either fresh or dried to impart its distinctive flavor into various dishes, especially Italian cuisine. The most common types of basil for cooking purposes are the Sweet Italian basil varieties. As an herbal medicine, basil is believed to have a soothing effect on the digestive system. Basil is commonly used in cooking in either a fresh or dried form. Natural basil essential oil widely used for compound perfumes in various cosmetics, perfumes and the like, contains estragole and linalool as the major components. It is thought that basil essential oil further contains a number of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes in trace amounts. Recently, the demand for fresh basil has mushroomed. Not only has there been a general trend in cooking to use fresh ingredients, but modern cooks are discovering the taste advantages of using fresh herbs such as basil. As with the sale of any harvested fresh plant, visual appeal and fresh characteristics are important to obtain maximum commercial value.

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