Basil (horapha, kaphrao, maenglak)
Horapha, kaphrao, maenglak are varieties of sweet basil. Horapha seems to be the nearest to
the sweet basil used in European tomato dishes and Italian pesto. Horapha is used here as a vegetable
and for flavouring. Fresh leaves are narrower and often tinged with reddish purple. It releases its aroma
and flavour only when cooked and is used with fish, beef and chicken. Maenglak leaves are slightly hairy
and paler green than Horapha. It is sometimes called lemon-scented basil but definitely has a peppery
taste when chewed; it is very similar to Halian dwarf basil and is used as a vegetable and for flavouring.