Basilico Genovese

Basilico Genovese is a fresh whole basil plant of the species Ocimum basilicum L., grown from locally selected ecotypes along the Tyrrhenian coast of the administrative Region of Liguria. The specification requires a total absence of minty aroma and a strong, characteristic odour, distinguishing it from basil cultivated in neighbouring or other Italian regions.

About this designation

Registered as a PDO on 21 October 2004 under file number PDO-IT-0194 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013505), Basilico Genovese covers the whole fresh plant of Ocimum basilicum L. grown exclusively from locally selected ecotypes or selections within the Tyrrhenian coast of the administrative Region of Liguria, bounded by the watershed. The specification prohibits the use of seeds that do not conform to the described characteristics and forbids cultivation on any medium lacking local soil. Methyl bromide may not be used to disinfect the soil. Production may take place under cover, provided adequate air circulation is ensured, or in open fields. Total annual production limits are set at 7,000 plants per square metre per year under cover and 2,000 plants per square metre per year in the open air. Packing must take place within the delimited geographical area. For fresh sale, basil must be presented in bunches of between two and four pairs of real leaves, comprising 3 or 10 complete plants with roots, wrapped in food-grade paper bearing the D.O.P. symbol. Larger units, called bouquets, comprise the equivalent of 10 bunches. All packaging must display the D.O.P. logo and the full trademark of the producing firm. The inspection body is the Camere di Commercio Industria Artigianato ed Agricoltura di Genova, Savona, Imperia e La Spezia. Producers must be entered in a list held by the inspection body and must notify the area to be sown, the seed variety used, and the intended maximum bunch size at least thirty days before sowing.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 21 October 2004 under file number PDO-IT-0194, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013505.
• The specification requires a total absence of minty aroma; this is a mandatory characteristic, not merely a preference.
• Cultivation on any medium lacking local soil is prohibited, and methyl bromide may not be used for soil disinfection.
• Fresh bunches must contain between two and four pairs of real leaves and comprise 3 or 10 complete plants with roots, wrapped in paper bearing the D.O.P. symbol.

HoReCa use

The specification identifies Basilico Genovese as the main ingredient of Genovese pesto, a preparation in which the ingredients are ground in a marble mortar with a wooden, marble or glass pestle. It is also noted as suitable for local or industrial processing, in which case it is supplied as portions of whole plants with no more than four pairs of real leaves.