Basil is a popular aromatic and annual herb growing in many regions of the world. Immediately after its harvesting, the highly perishable raw material, i.e. leaves, have to be preserved against deterioration and spoilage. More often, during peak period, most of the crop is lost/wasted due to lack of proper post-harvest processing techniques. Drying is by far the most widely used treatment, which needs to be performed very carefully and preciously so as to preserve the aroma and color of the leaves. Various drying treatments and experimental methods viz., solar drying, tray drying, vacuum drying and fluidized bed drying were carried out at the temperatures of45°C,55°Cand65°Cto find and suggest the optimum drying condition for acquiring quality dried... |