Thai Holy basil has a spicier flavor than traditional Thai basil. One type of Thai Holy basil has light green leaves, while the other type has reddish leaves with a darker green on the underside of the leaves. Thai Holy Basil can also be recognized by the tiny hairs that appear on its jagged, fragile leaves and stems. The flavors of mint, basil and pepper within the plant become more prevalent when cooked. For this reason, Thai Holy basil is better to cook with than to eat raw. Due to its spicy nature, Thai Holy basil is also referred to as "hot basil." Holy basil is used medicinally as a stress-reducer, painkiller, anti-inflammatory agent, an antioxidant, as well as a treatment for bacterial, fungal and even viral infections.