Thai basil, holy basil and sweet basil compared
Holy basil (kra pao, tulsi) and Thai basil (horapa) are different herbs. Compare their flavor, appearance and names, which one belongs in pad kra pao, and what to substitute.
Contents
- Thai basil, holy basil and sweet basil at a glance
- Holy basil (kra pao)
- Thai basil (horapa)
- Sweet basil (Italian or Genovese basil)
- Is tulsi the same as holy basil?
- Which basil goes in pad kra pao?
- What is the best substitute for holy basil?
- Can you use regular basil instead of Thai basil?
- Name guide for recipes and shopping
Holy basil and Thai basil are not the same herb. Thai basil, called horapa in Thai, is a variety of ordinary sweet basil with a sweet anise-licorice scent. Holy basil, called kra pao (also written gaprao) in Thai and tulsi in India, is a separate species with a spicier, clove-like flavor. Holy basil is the herb that gives the Thai stir-fry pad kra pao its name and character. Sweet basil, the Italian-style basil used in pesto and tomato dishes, is the same species as Thai basil but smells distinctly different from it.
Thai basil, holy basil and sweet basil at a glance
| Trait | Thai basil | Holy basil | Sweet basil |
| Thai name | Horapa | Kra pao (gaprao) | — |
| Other common names | — | Tulsi, tulasi, hot basil | Italian basil, Genovese (a cultivar) |
| Botanical name | Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora | Ocimum tenuiflorum (formerly O. sanctum) | Ocimum basilicum |
| Aroma and flavor | Sweet anise and licorice, slight spiciness, touch of mint | Spicy and peppery; clove-like with hints of mint and citrus | The familiar basil of pesto; fragrance distinctly different from Thai basil |
| Stems | Purple | Hairy | — |
| Leaves | Narrow; green types are bright green and shiny | Hairy; green or purple | — |
| Flowers | Pink-purple | — | — |
| Best-known use | Thai cooking where a sweet, anise-scented basil is called for | Pad kra pao | Pesto and tomato dishes |
Holy basil (kra pao)
Holy basil is Ocimum tenuiflorum, a species once classified as Ocimum sanctum. Its flavor is described as spicy and peppery, with clove, mint and basil notes and a hint of citrus. Compared with Thai basil it has more of a punch and less sweetness. One nickname, hot basil, reflects that sharper bite.
The easiest physical clue is texture: holy basil has hairy stems and hairy leaves, and the leaves can be green or purple. The plant also grows larger than Thai basil.
Thai basil (horapa)
Thai basil is a variety of sweet basil, classified as Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora. Its scent is sweet, with a strong anise and licorice character, a touch of mint and slight spiciness. Next to holy basil it smells noticeably sweeter.
Look for narrow leaves, purple stems and pink-purple flowers. Green Thai basil leaves are bright green and shiny rather than fuzzy. The plant is smaller than holy basil, typically 12 to 18 inches tall.
Sweet basil (Italian or Genovese basil)
Sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum, is the common basil sold in most US supermarkets and the standard herb for pesto and tomato dishes. Genovese is one well-known sweet basil cultivar. Thai basil belongs to the same species, but its fragrance is distinctly different, and its purple stems and flowers set it apart visually.
Is tulsi the same as holy basil?
Yes. Tulsi, also spelled tulasi, is a common name for Ocimum tenuiflorum, the same plant called holy basil in English and kra pao in Thai. So the difference between Thai basil and tulsi is the difference between Thai basil and holy basil: two separate herbs, one sweet and anise-scented, the other peppery and clove-like.
Which basil goes in pad kra pao?
Pad kra pao is made with holy basil. The dish is named after the herb, and the peppery, clove-like flavor of kra pao is central to it. Thai basil is a different ingredient with its own uses, so a version made with horapa or with supermarket sweet basil will taste different from what is served in Thailand. That difference is why many cooks who try to recreate the dish at home with regular basil find that something is missing.
What is the best substitute for holy basil?
Holy basil has no exact stand-in. Thai cooking teacher Pailin Chongchitnant, of Hot Thai Kitchen, uses ordinary Italian basil when holy basil is unavailable for pad kra pao. Her reasoning is that Thai basil's strong anise sweetness pulls the dish further from its intended flavor. This is one experienced cook's preference, not a claim that the two herbs taste alike. Either substitute produces a different dish, but Italian basil is the less intrusive choice by her account.
Can you use regular basil instead of Thai basil?
Regular sweet basil is Thai basil's closest relative, since both are the same species. It will not supply Thai basil's pronounced anise and licorice scent, though, so expect a milder, less distinctly Thai result. If that sweet anise aroma is the point of the dish, the swap will be noticeable.
Name guide for recipes and shopping
- Kra pao, gaprao, holy basil, tulsi, tulasi, hot basil: all refer to Ocimum tenuiflorum.
- Horapa, Thai basil: Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora, a sweet, anise-scented basil variety.
- Sweet basil, Italian basil, Genovese basil: ordinary Ocimum basilicum, the pesto and tomato-sauce basil.
- A label or recipe that says only "Thai basil" or "Thai/holy basil" is ambiguous. Check the stems: purple and smooth suggests Thai basil, while hairy suggests holy basil.
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