What You Need To Do To Keep Your Basil From Turning Bitter - Tasting Table
Briefly

Fresh basil has aromatic and flavorful notes of mint, licorice, and pepper, but can turn bitter if not cared for. To maintain its sweetness, regular pruning is essential. Trimming dead stems prevents disease spread and allows the remaining leaves to receive adequate sunlight. If basil is left unpruned, it may flower and focus on seed production, leading to increased bitterness. The recommended pruning time is during the growing season, typically when the plant reaches six to eight inches in height, enhancing the growth of healthy basil leaves.
Basil has delightful flavors with notes of mint, licorice, and pepper that can turn bitter if not properly maintained, impacting culinary uses negatively.
Pruning basil is essential for encouraging healthier growth and ensuring that the plant produces aromatic leaves, while preventing diseases and bitterness.
When basil flowers, it focuses on seed production over leaf growth, which increases bitterness. Pruning can prevent flowering and maintain leaf quality.
The optimal time to prune basil is during the growing season, specifically when the plant reaches six to eight inches in height, ensuring maximum leaf production.
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