Basilico: An Herb Sent From Heaven

1. Assumption

I never really thought much about caprese salads until this class. It was always just something made to use up the extra tomatoes from the garden. I never thought about the taste of basil in the salad, but I never realized how integral it is to the whole dish. After having just tomato and mozzarella without the basil, it dawned on me how essential the flavor of the basil is to the salad and how much it adds to the dish. Basil was never a super prominent herb in my mind, until this class when it has shown to be essential to so many foods. The consideration of what basil does and how it is important, not just to the palate but to the nose was lost on me until having learned more about the importance of basil in Italian cooking.

2. Dish

Caprese salad is a simple salad that contains tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, oil, and sometimes balsamic vinegar.

3. Chemical analysis

The use of basil really impacts the experience of eating a caprese salad. The basil interacts with receptors in your nose as well as in your mouth. The flavor of basil is enhanced by the scent. Because of the number of smell receptors in our nose, we have a greater taste of foods, especially ones with strong flavors like basil. The aroma molecules of the basil triggers a signal by binding to a GPCR protein that are embedded in the membrane of the cells lining the nasal passage. This then sets off a signal transductor enzyme called adenylate cyclase which makes a second messenger called cyclic AMP. The aroma molecules we experience through our nose are volatile (they can evaporate). Basil contains both terpenes and phenolics which is why it tastes slightly spicy but also sweet and lightly citrusy.

4. Cultural Analysis

Basil, whose name is derived from basilicum, which in Latin means a royal or princely robe and in Greek basilikos, meaning royal or kingly. Basil is considered to be a kingly, royal herb that is the most popular and loved in Italy. Basil has always played a large role in Italian culture, especially their foods, like pesto, tomato sauces, and many pasta dishes. Basil was so highly regarded by the Italian people that it was thought to bring you closer to God because it was such a royal herb.

5. Integration

In the story of Lisabetta and the Pot of Basil from Boccaccio’s The Decameron, she places the head of her beloved Lorenzo in a pot and plants basil on top of it after her brothers killed him. She plants him with the highest, most regal plant so he can nourish a plant that will bring him closer to God. These high regards of basil come from the experience of eating basil. The flavors experienced through scent and taste leads to a feeling of eating something better than what a mortal deserves. Basil enriches the foods it is cooked with and makes them more ambrosia-esque.  There is a feeling of greatness when experiencing the flavors of basil and how it comes off as bitter, sweet, spicy, and citrusy all from one plant which would make sense on why it is highly regarded. The effect it has on the human senses is heavenly.