Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an annual spicy herb indigenous to India which has been cultivated for several millennia for its aromatic and medical uses. This chapter gives a definition of basil before examining the chemical composition of the different varieties of the plant. Production of basil is discussed in relation to soil and climate requirements, propagation, planting and fertilizing; organic production is also covered. The chapter then looks at postharvest handling and storage of the leaves and essential oil and extraction of the oil. The culinary and medicinal uses of basil and its functional properties are described before the chapter finishes with a discussion of quality issues and toxicity.