As the name suggests, Red Rubin Basil is a red-coloured basil. More specifically, it has dark, reddish-purple leaves and stems, making it most appealing for salads and garnishes. Another small difference from regular basil is that Red Rubin has a stronger flavour. Evidence of a reddish basil dates back to the 1830s, when the English botanist George Bentham first discovered an ‘opal’ strain of the plant. It wasn’t until 1950, however, that a genuine red/purple basil cultivar was created: the Dark Opal. Red Rubin is a new, improved variant of this cultivar, having larger, more deeply purple leaves and being less prone to areas of green developing.