Aerogarden International Basil

March 10th, 2009

Aerogarden International Basil
I’m still not a big fan of my aerogarden (see my aerogarden review. It would seem to me that mine has a defect as the back right pod, no matter what I plant in it, NEVER performs well. Also, the arm height for the light is woefully too short, I know I can buy an extension, but I’m reluctant to buy another part for it.

Right now I’m growing the “International Basil” seed kit, basil being one of my favorite fresh herbs to grow, probably my favorite fresh herb to grow. Not because it is my favorite herb, but basil, perhaps more than anything else, is infinitely superior fresh than dried. Other herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or oregano are fine dried, but basil loses a lot of flavor.

My favorite type of basil of the standard italian or genovese basil. This kit includes that, as well as marseille basil, thai basil, globe basil, napalatino basil, and lemon basil, and red rubin basil. So, as a service to the Internet, I thought I would write my thoughts on the taste of each.

Lemon basil tastes remarkly like lemon zest, to the point where a blind taste test might have someone calling it a lemon. It’ll be good to use in any dish that would normally use lemon, such as many fish dishes, and could also possibly be used in desserts and confections.

Thai basil is spicy with a strong fennel/anise/licorise flavor on smaller leaves. It isn’t my favorite, but I don’t mind it.

Marseille basil starts out complex and strong, and then fades to a soapy cilantro flavor. I hate it, I won’t eat it, much as I won’t eat cilantro, I’m one of those people who thinks it tastes like soap.

Napalatino basil is very mild, perhaps a more mild version of genovese, on big crinkley leaves.

Red Rubin Basil is pretty, with burgundy to purple leaf veins and edges, with a mild flavor very similar to standard genovese.

Finally, globe basil has small peppery flavored leaves.

Thats the lot of them, all told, other than the decorative value of red rubin basil, I can’t say any of these impressed me enough to grow them in addition to or instead of the standard genovese I always grow.

4 Responses to “Aerogarden International Basil”

  1. Karen's Garden Tips  Says:

    I too love basil and appreciate you comparing the tastes of them. I grow one pot full of green basil for cooking and then a flat full of purple leaved basil for my flower garden. I think the texture and color adds a lot to a border and at 18″ it creates a nice background for many front of the border plants.

  2. matt worth  Says:

    I think your blog is great, looking forward to checking it out in depth. Don’t know if you know this useful tip, but you can rid you garden of slugs with beer. Honest, it works great. Check out my blog for the whole story (ive got um an i dont want um). I’m trying to do a “greener” garden pest control blog. Have a great one. -Matt

  3. matt worth  Says:

    I think your blog is great, looking forward to checking it out in depth. Don’t know if you know this useful tip, but you can rid you garden of slugs with beer. Honest, it works great. Check out my blog for the whole story (ive got um an i dont want um). I’m trying to do a “greener” garden pest control blog. Have a great one. Thanks-Matt

  4. matt worth  Says:

    didn’t mean to leave duplicate comment-sorry, turns out i have a similar web address to another site mine doesn’t have a “d” after the “an”, crazy web:)

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