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Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) has multiple cultivars — Thai basil, O. basilicum var. Thai basil may sometimes be called anise basil or licorice basil, in reference to its anise- and licorice-like scent and taste, but it is different from the Western strains bearing these same names.
Keeping this in consideration, why does basil smell like licorice?
For example, Thai basil, a.k.a. anise basil, tastes like extremely strong licorice because it contains anethol, wich is the exact same chemical that make anise smell like black licorice.
Thereof, is Licorice made from basil?
Licorice basil, a Western strain of Thai basil, is also known as anise basil as it has distinctive anise flavored qualities and aromatics. It is a lanky plant with pointed green leaves and signature burgundy tinted spiked flowers. Both the leaves and the flowers are edible.
The most common basil is 'Genovese basil' (Ocimum basilicum), which is often referred to as sweet basil. The two names are interchangeable. Sweet or Genovese basil both grow in U. S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 and above as perennials.