Basil Lemon

This basil is true to its name, one sniff and one would swear one was in a lemon orchard. Lemon Basil contains citral and limonene, therefore actually does smell very lemony, although it tastes sweeter. It has a very mild flavour, and while it smells beautiful, the ‘lemon’ in the name does trick one into expecting something that tastes a little more lemony. Use it to marinate, grill, finish, or dress salad dressings, sauces, fish dishes and desserts. It also makes a wonderfully citrus pesto.

The plants have small, light green leaves with with slightly serrated edges and white to pale pink flowers. They grow to around 30cm tall, so makes a wonderful compact border plant. They are also a good addition to the garden and can be grown in containers.

Lemon basil is a popular herb in Arabic, Indonesian, Philippines, Lao, Malay, Persian and Thai cuisine. The bright, fresh, lemony sweet scent and taste make them a perfect match for seasonal fruits and garden produce, a good addition to any recipe that calls for citrus highlights. The taste is milder than the ordinary basil and is often eaten raw.

Find your Climate Zone