Basil is a member of the mint family and is very similar in appearance. The most popular kind of basil used in cooking is sweet basil, but some of the other more widely-known types are clove basil, lemon basil, and cinnamon basil.

With so many varieties, it can be difficult to choose. Here are just a few types, with a brief description, to help in your quest for the perfect basil for your savory dish:

 •  Sweet basil-the best known, it has a scent of clove when fresh.

 •  Genovese basil-has a similar flavor as sweet basil and is almost as popular.

 •  Napolitano basil-favored by many for pizzas.

 •  Lemon basil-also called "hoary basil," has a lemony smell, like the name implies, but
    has a sweet taste.

 •  Thai basil-has a scent of licorice with a hint of mint. Purple stems and flowers add
    beauty and taste to many Thai dishes.

 •  Cinnamon basil-also called Mexican spice basil, has the same compound found in     cinnamon which gives it its strong fragrance.

 •  Holy basil-also known as 'sacred basil' since it's used in worship in India.

 • Purple basil-rich and spicy, it has more of an anise flavor than Genovese or sweet basil.

A good way to get acquainted with some of the multiple varieties of basil is to order the Mixed Custom Blend from www.gardentrails.com. They have reasonable prices, free shipping, and no minimum order is required, so you can actually have fun experimenting with a test flat of different types of basil seeds.