Pantry
Holy basil or Thai basil: they are not the same leaf.
Pad kra pao only tastes like pad kra pao with holy basil. Thai basil makes a good dish too, just a different one. Here is how to tell them apart and what to buy when the real thing is not on the shelf.
What each basil actually tastes like
Holy basil (bai kra pao, กะเพรา) is peppery with a clove-like heat that wilts straight into the sauce. It is the whole point of pad kra pao: the dish is named after the leaf.
Thai basil (horapa, โหระพา) is sweeter, with an anise lean, and sturdier on the plate. It belongs in curries, drunken noodles and as a side herb, not standing in for kra pao without a change of name.
Cook pad kra pao with Thai basil and the dish is still good, it is just pad horapa now: sweeter and less peppery.
Which basil to use when you cannot find holy basil
Most Asian grocers outside Thailand carry Thai basil (horapa) far more often than holy basil. Some Thai cooks living abroad skip Thai basil entirely and reach for Italian or garden basil instead, since its peppery edge is closer to kra pao than horapa’s sweetness is. Others prefer Thai basil because it is easier to find and holds up better in the wok.
Neither is the real thing. Try both over a few cooks and use whichever one you reach for again.
Buying and storing holy basil
Holy basil bruises fast and does not keep like a sturdier herb. Buy it the day you plan to cook, from a Thai or Southeast Asian grocer rather than a general supermarket.
If you find more than you need, freeze the leaves flat in a bag and add them straight from frozen. They lose a little texture but keep the flavor.
| Name | Thai | Taste | Best use | Swap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy basil (bai kra pao) | กะเพรา | Peppery, clove-like | Pad kra pao | Thai basil, or Italian basil for a closer peppery edge |
| Thai basil (horapa) | โหระพา | Sweet, anise-leaning | Curries, drunken noodles, side herb | Italian basil, with a different character |
Questions
- What is the difference between holy basil and Thai basil?
- Holy basil (bai kra pao) is peppery and clove-like. Thai basil (horapa) is sweeter and anise-leaning. They look similar but taste different.
- Can I use Thai basil instead of holy basil in pad kra pao?
- Yes, the dish still works, but it becomes pad horapa: sweeter and less peppery than the original.
- Is Italian basil a good substitute for holy basil?
- Some Thai cooks abroad think so, because its peppery edge is closer to holy basil than Thai basil’s sweetness is. It is a substitute either way, not the real thing.
- Where can I buy holy basil?
- Look in a Thai or Southeast Asian grocer rather than a general supermarket, and buy it the day you plan to cook since it bruises fast.
