Basil
Fresh Culinary Herbs

Basil

Basil is one of the most aromatic culinary herbs in the world, essential to Italian, Thai, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisines. Its sweet, clove-like fragrance comes from the essential oil linalool, which dissipates rapidly with heat, making basil primarily a finishing herb used fresh. Watania Farms produces sweet basil in controlled hydroponic conditions that optimise leaf size, oil content, and colour for premium culinary markets.

GMO Free Export Grade Hydroponic Year-Round
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Watania Farms — Kenya

Basil
Nutrition
Facts

  • Exceptional source of Vitamin K
  • Good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C
  • Contains Manganese, Calcium, and Iron
  • Rich in Essential Oils (linalool, eugenol, citral)
  • Contains Flavonoids (orientin, vicenin) - powerful antioxidants
  • Anti-inflammatory properties from Eugenol
Basil Nutrition Facts
Basil Growing
How We Grow It

Growing
Information

Basil is a warm-season herb that thrives at 18-30C and is extremely sensitive to cold – temperatures below 10C cause blackening of leaves. In our Malindi facility, we maintain consistently warm temperatures that basil requires, producing large-leafed, aromatic plants year-round. Basil is harvested by topping the plant above a leaf node, encouraging branching and multiple harvest cycles.

Usage Ideas

Basil is at its best when used fresh, added at the end of cooking, or used raw in cold preparations that showcase its fragrant essential oils.

Pesto

Blend fresh basil with pine nuts, parmesan, garlic, and olive oil for the classic Italian sauce for pasta and crostini.

Pizza Topping

Add fresh basil leaves to pizza immediately after it comes out of the oven - the residual heat gently wilts them.

Caprese Salad

Layer with fresh mozzarella and ripe tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil, and scatter basil leaves for this Italian classic.

Thai Cuisine

Thai basil is essential to Pad Krapow, Thai green curry, and Vietnamese pho.

Fresh Basil Pasta More Recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

Basil blackens from cold damage (below 10C), oxidation after cutting, or ethylene exposure. Store at 12-15C (not in the refrigerator) and cut stems in water to extend vase life.

Sweet basil has a softer, sweeter aroma preferred in Mediterranean cuisine, while Thai basil has a more pronounced anise-like note used in South-East Asian dishes.

We can offer basil in retail-ready and food service formats depending on market needs, including bunches, clamshell packs, and other agreed specifications.

Basil is handled carefully to minimise bruising and temperature shock, with packing formats selected to preserve fragrance, leaf integrity, and export quality.
Product Details
Category Fresh Culinary Herbs
Standard Export Grade
GMO Status GMO Free
Growing Method Controlled Hydroponics
Origin Malindi, Kenya
Availability Year-Round
GMO Free Export Grade Hydroponic Year-Round
Request Quotation Back to Fresh Culinary Herbs

Ready to Source Our Basil?

Contact our export team to discuss volume requirements, packaging options, and supply timelines.

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