Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a tender culinary herb in the mint family with fragrant green leaves and a sweet, slightly peppery flavor. Fresh basil provides vitamin K, carotenoids, and an array of protective plant compounds, with rosmarinic acid and chicoric acid among its predominant polyphenols. Basil's aromatic oils and polyphenols vary with cultivar, growing conditions, and maturity, making freshly harvested basil a flavorful way to add a concentrated variety of phytonutrients to everyday meals.