Food Trivia Question from the Oriental Oasis Newsletter
TRIVIA QUESTION: A versatile herb, different varieties of me can have everything from a licorice to a lemony flavor. Native to India, I am now popular in many European and Asian cuisines. My presence may be found in everything from Indonesian curries to Italian Pesto. Throughout history my rumored powers have been regarded with awe and sometimes terror. In the middle ages people believed that I bred scorpions. Even today, my leaves are thought to possess aphrodisiacal powers. When soaked, my seeds take on a gelatinous quality that is a popular ingredient in canned cold drinks in warmer countries. Finally, I am a popular name for boys - film buffs can spend hours debating whether an actor with my name or Jeremy Brent made the definitive Sherlock Holmes. What am I?
TRIVIA ANSWER: Basil. Basil is a popular ingredient in many, although not all, Asian cuisines. Peggy Trowbridge, About's Home Cooking Guide, notes that ancient records indicate that basil was grown in the Hunan region of China as early as 907 A.D. Nonetheless, it is not ordinarily used in Chinese cooking. On the other hand, basil is a common ingredient in Thai dishes. The type used most often in Thai cooking has a licorice or anise flavor, and is generally sold under the name of "Thai Basil." Basil Sweet Drinks are quite popular in Southeast Asia; in North America you can often find them in Asian markets. Finally, Basil Rathbone was an actor who is best known for portraying the incomparable Inspector Sherlock Holmes in a series of 1940's films..
Recipes:
Thai Basil and Sweet Corn
Tomato Basil
Sauce - Tomatoes and basil make an excellent combination - this recipe is
from About's Italian Cuisine Guide.
