The nine-story pagoda is a millet belonging to the genus Ocimum L. of Labiatae, and its flowers are in the shape of multi-story pagodas, so it is called "nine-story pagoda", also known as basil and Lingling cuisine. Because its leaves, stems and flowers have lemon fragrance and mint fragrance, it is also called lemon basil, mint basil and spearmint basil. The whole grass has the effects of expelling wind, relieving exterior syndrome, eliminating dampness and promoting qi circulation, promoting blood circulation and detoxifying, and reducing swelling, and is widely distributed in tropical regions of Asia, Europe, Africa and America. In recent years, it has developed rapidly and has been planted all over China, especially in the south and coastal areas.

This nine-story tower originated in India and Iran. It has a very strong and unforgettable fragrance. It is a widely used spice in Taiwan Province Province. There is a saying in the countryside of Taiwan Province Province: "Nine stories, a hundred miles". Some varieties are slightly like fennel, sweet and slightly spicy. Nine-story pagoda is also a kind of plant that can be used as medicine, which is listed in Compendium of Materia Medica.

The origin of the name "nine-story building" is also quite interesting: according to legend, an ancient emperor was trapped in a long-abandoned nine-story building because of a sudden flood during his inspection. As there was nothing to eat, the emperor had to pick a weed growing on the eaves of the tower to satisfy his hunger. Unexpectedly, this weed tastes great. The emperor ordered his followers to take the seeds back to the palace for planting. In order to commemorate the tower, he named the weeds the nine-story tower.

The nine-story tower is basil (also known as radish, or short bran, thousand-story tower, etc. It is an indispensable material for making delicious table chicken with three cups or crispy chicken, and can also stir-fry seafood such as clams: there is also a simple and delicious scrambled egg in Taiwan Province's home cooking. Nine-story pagoda is also a common spice in southern European dishes, especially pasta, and it is also the main material of nine-story pagoda sauce (Pisto) in southern France.

The taste of the ninth floor is not ordinary. When I think of the nine-story tower, I can't help but recall the scrambled eggs that my girlfriend personally cooked for me not long ago and the many delicious foods I ate. Nine floors, it smells good when you think about it! This is the first layer of incense of the nine-story tower. When I was in Taipei, I usually went to the vegetable market downstairs in the morning to buy fish, vegetables and fruits for cooking. I often bought a big bag of nine floors, only two yuan. The food stall owner put the fresh nine-story towers into plastic bags one by one from the carton, and the irreplaceable fragrance came to her face. This is the second fragrance of the nine-story tower. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth layers of incense are almost uninterrupted and connected together: to prepare cooking, first take the nine-story tower out of the plastic bag (three incense), wash it with water (four incense), pull out the leaves (five incense) and put it in the pot (six incense). Every stage is an indescribable sense of smell enjoyment. I often put my finger in front of my nostrils after pulling out the leaves of the nine-story pagoda and before washing my hands, and smell the fragrance of the nine-story pagoda. After the dishes are fried, they will be served on the table. Whether it is chicken, clams, eggs or pasta, they will release intoxicating and appetizing fragrance. This is the seventh fragrance of the nine-story tower. The eighth layer of incense, of course, is to hold a piece of meat with chopsticks, or to wrap a little noodles with a fork and send food to your mouth. The effect of the nine-story tower on taste buds is unparalleled. There is no doubt that few foods or spices can make gourmets feel this way. Finally, when the food is finished, the table is ready, and you are lying in bed ready to sleep, you close your eyes and let your tongue swing in your mouth a few times. That makes you feel unsatisfied and a little hungry, which makes you hesitate to get out of bed and go to the kitchen to see if there is anything to eat for dinner. It's the ninth fragrance of the nine-story tower!