The basil leaves are oval and elongated, and its colour varies from pale green to deep green. They are used as the main ingredient in Italian pesto, but are also used on pizza, another classic Mediterranean dish, as well as in the preparation of spirits and preserves.
Basil is an aromatic plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, native to tropical Asia. It is one of the most widespread plants in the world: there are in fact at least forty varieties, of
which the best known are the Genoese and Neapolitan.