{"title":"Basil","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"genovese-basil","title":"Genovese Basil","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eGenovese basil is the classic Italian sweet basil variety, featuring large, bright green, slightly crinkled oval leaves up to 3 inches long on upright, bushy plants that grow 24-30 inches tall with square stems and a lush, branching habit. The leaves are highly aromatic with a sweet, slightly spicy flavor that includes notes of clove, anise, and subtle pepperiness—rich and complex without bitterness when harvested young, making it the gold standard for authentic Italian dishes. It's perfect for making homemade pesto (the traditional choice), layering in caprese salads with tomatoes and mozzarella, chopping fresh into pasta sauces, bruschetta, or pizzas, infusing oils and vinegars, or adding to soups, grilled meats, and vegetable sides for bright herbal notes. This variety is a reliable and popular choice for Utah because it's heat-tolerant for our hot, dry summers, slow to bolt compared to many basils (helping maintain flavor longer in variable weather), and performs well in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil—USU Extension often lists it (or similar Genoa Green types) among top performers for local home gardens with proper warm-season timing via transplants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Salt City Gardens","offers":[{"title":"4-Pack","offer_id":44848999923821,"sku":"geno-bas-04","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0696\/6774\/9997\/files\/BasilGenovese.jpg?v=1773700779"},{"product_id":"sweet-thai-basil","title":"Sweet Thai Basil","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eSweet Thai basil is a distinct heirloom variety of basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora) that produces tall, upright plants with narrow, pointed, deep green to purple-tinged leaves that are slightly serrated and highly aromatic, with purple stems and small clusters of purple-pink flowers. The leaves have a unique flavor profile—sweet and anise-like with strong licorice and clove notes, a spicy warmth, and less of the traditional sweet basil's minty edge, giving it an authentic Thai profile that's essential for Southeast Asian cuisine. It's excellent used fresh in Thai dishes like pad thai, green or red curry, pho, stir-fries, and summer rolls; chopped into sauces or marinades; or added at the end of cooking to preserve its delicate aroma and vibrant color—many consider it far superior to regular basil in recipes calling for that signature licorice kick. This variety is a good fit for Utah because it's vigorous and relatively heat-tolerant for our hot, dry summers, matures quickly enough to produce usable leaves in our shorter season with transplants, and performs well in fertile, well-drained soil with full sun—making it a reliable aromatic herb for home gardeners who want authentic flavor for cooking.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Salt City Gardens","offers":[{"title":"4-Pack","offer_id":44849000317037,"sku":"thai-bas-04","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0696\/6774\/9997\/files\/BasilSweetThai.jpg?v=1773700914"}],"url":"https:\/\/saltcitygardens.com\/collections\/basil.oembed","provider":"Salt City Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}