Commonly referred to as basil, this extraordinary herb has been revered throughout the ages for its intoxicating aroma and potent medicinal benefits. You may have had the experience of rubbing just-plucked basil leaves between your fingers, inhaling its majestic panoply of intertwining scents and feeling instantly refreshed. It is no wonder that basil’s common name is derived from the Greek βασιλεύς (basileus), meaning "king." At once sweet and fresh, spicy and herbaceous, the mention alone of its name evokes precious memories of hand torn leaves destined for a fresh salad or pasta sauce, of timeless summer days and clear blue skies that seem to last forever.