Basil is possibly native to?India,?and has been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years.?It was thoroughly familiar to the Greek authors?Theophrastus?and?Dioscorides. It is a?tender?plant, best known as a culinary herb prominently featured in?Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in?Southeast Asian?cuisines of?Indonesia,?Thailand,?Malaysia,?Vietnam,?Cambodia,?Laos, and?Taiwan. Depending on the species and cultivar, the leaves may taste somewhat like?anise, with a strong, pungent, often sweet smell.