Basil or Mint?

Hi, is this plant Basil or Mint?

I got this from my dad and he thinks it is a red-stem basil but my neighbor told me it is mint. Please identify, thanks.

 

Looks like mint but not 100%. I would break a leaf and smell. You will know if it's mint. :)

 

Looks like peppermint (Mentha x piperita) to me.

 

The flower is pinkish. Does peppermint have pink flowers?

 

Yes, peppermint cultivars tend to have pale pink or pale purple flowers.

 

Thank you.
One more question: how to tell the difference between basil and mint?

 

That's not easy to answer as there are quite a few species (and hybrids) in both genera.

Compared to basil (Ocimum sp.) Mentha species tend to have leaves that are more serrated and are more prominently veined and so they feel pretty rough to touch. The flowers of basil have bigger lips and so the stamens do not stand out that much. With that being said, these are just generalizations which might not be correct for all species and hybrids out there.

If in any doubt, break a leaf as it was mentioned by crazynca. Basil smells spicy while many (but not all) Mentha species smell like mint - peppermint (M. x piperita) leaves obviously do due to their high menthol content.

Anyways, you might probably do better by "googling" the words "Ocimum" and "Mentha" and comparing images. The most cultivated basil species is Ocimum basilicum which looks very different compared to Mentha species.