holy basil

You are probably familiar with 'gai pad gra pow'. I doubt that when you order 'pad gra pow' in the restaurant, you would really get the real gra pow. Often, basil is substituted for gra pow. They are not the same. However, if push comes to shove, basil is better than nothing. Gra pow has a different smell than basil. Its branches and leaves are covered with tiny hair. It has a hot spicy smell. If you are making 'pad gra pow', don't sacrifice the taste, you all that you've got. It is worth it.