In article , Heidi
wrote:

I'm curious as to the taste of your basil. I picked off some leaves on
my basil plant 2 weeks ago and the leaves tasted exceptionally bitter.
My plant is a sweet basil, the kind normally used for pesto. Has anyone
had the same experience? What can make basil extra bitter? I had
assumed it was because I harvested the leaves so late in the season.

TIA!
Heidi

I have always noted that subsequent harvests of basil leaves taste more
"harsh" than the first picking. The first pesto of the season is the
sweetest and best, but that doesn't exactly halt production around
here. I'm happy with whatever we get, and tend to add mint to the
recipe to sweeten it.

-j