Fresh basil is an aromatic herb providing notable vitamin K, beta-carotene, and useful manganese. Its characteristic sweet, peppery aroma comes from linalool and eugenol, volatile compounds lost rapidly when cooked or dried. It is used fresh in salads, pasta, pizza, and pesto, and is the defining herb of Italian and Southeast Asian cuisines.
Add fresh basil at the very end of cooking or after removing from heat to preserve its volatile aroma. Store at room temperature (not the fridge, which blackens the leaves); keep stems in water like cut flowers.
Where Basil, fresh Stands Out
Macronutrients per 100g
Vitamins & Minerals
| Nutrient | Per 100g | % Daily Value* | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (RE) | 660 µg | 94% | |
| Potassium | 300 mg | 15% | |
| Calcium | 250 mg | 31% | |
| Phosphorus | 37.0 mg | 5% | |
| Vitamin C | 26.0 mg | 33% | |
| Magnesium | 11.0 mg | 3% | |
| Iron | 5.50 mg | 39% | |
| Niacin (B3) | 1.10 mg | 7% | |
| Zinc | 0.700 mg | 7% | |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.310 mg | 22% | |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.080 mg | 7% | |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.000 µg | 0% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.000 µg | 0% | |
| Trans fat | 0.000 g | — | |
| Maltose | 0.000 g | — | |
| Cholesterol | 0.000 mg | — | |
| Beta-carotene | 3,950 µg | — | |
| Retinol (vitamin A) | 0.000 µg | 0% |
* % Daily Value is the proportion of an adult
EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) supplied by 100g of this food.
NRVs are the labelling standard — the same basis as the “%RI” figures printed on
food packaging — so these percentages are directly comparable with a shop label.
They are a single adult figure and do not vary by age or sex, which is why they
sometimes differ from UK dietary reference values: the NRV for vitamin C is 80mg
where the UK RNI is 40mg. When Nutriofia assesses your own intake in the
reports and trackers, it uses the age- and sex-specific UK values instead.
Fibre is shown without a percentage. Our fibre values use the UK
Englyst NSP method, while the published 30g daily goal is an AOAC figure — the two
are measured differently and a single percentage would mislead.
How we source and normalise our data →
Phytochemicals
Bioactive plant compounds — not classified as essential nutrients but associated with a range of health benefits.