Siam Princess is the most flavorful of the Thai basils, or Ocimum basilicum. Siam Princess has small green and purplish leaves with red stems and purple flowers. Grows 12-18". An essential ingredient is Southeast Asian cooking, it adds its dinstinctive anise/clove flavor in curries and spicy dishes, or as a fragrant ornamental in the herb or flower garden. Known as horapa in Thai. Also used in Vietnamese dishes where it is known as hung que. A plate of raw Thai basil is often served as an accompaniment to Pho. In India the seeds, also known as tukmaria or sabja, are utilized in making falooda a dessert popular in India and the Middle East. Soak the seeds in water to turn it into a jelly that can be then added to vermicelli, rose syrup, pistachios, cardamom, ice cream and milk to create this tasty and cooling concoction.
