Shiso - Perilla Green
Shiso – Perilla Green (Perilla frutescens )
A vibrant, aromatic herb with a bold herbaceous flavour — perfect for salads, sushi, pickles, noodles, and summer dishes
🌿 Green Shiso (also known as Ao Shiso or Green Perilla) is a beautifully aromatic East Asian herb with broad, serrated leaves and a distinctive, complex flavour. Strong, herbaceous, and instantly recognisable, its taste is best described as a mix of basil, cumin, and a touch of citrus — bright, warm, and deeply aromatic.
Highly valued in Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cooking, Shiso brings freshness and depth to salads, sushi, noodles, grilled dishes, and pickles. The plant is vigorous, leafy, and productive throughout summer, making it ideal for containers, borders, and cut‑and‑come‑again harvesting.
A must‑grow herb for cooks who enjoy bold, aromatic flavours and modern Asian‑inspired dishes.
🌿 Leaves
Green Shiso leaves have a unique, strong herbaceous flavour blending the freshness of basil, the warm aromatic notes of cumin, and a subtle citrus lift.
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Classic with sushi, sashimi, and rice dishes
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Excellent in salads, especially with cucumber, tomato, tofu, or citrus
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Lovely in noodle bowls, ramen, and stir‑fries
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Delicious with grilled meats, especially chicken, pork, and beef
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Perfect for Korean BBQ wraps
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Great in pickles, including umeboshi‑style or quick pickles
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Adds brightness to herb sauces, dressings, and marinades
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Can be used like basil in pestos, oils, and blended sauces
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Beautiful as a fresh garnish for almost any dish
Leaf flavour: basil‑fresh, cumin‑warm, citrus‑bright, herbaceous
🌼 Flowers & Buds
Shiso flower buds and young flower spikes are edible and aromatic.
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Used in Japanese tempura
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Add a delicate herbal note to salads
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Excellent pickled or used as a garnish
Flower flavour: light, citrus‑herbal
🌱 Seeds
Shiso seeds are edible and aromatic.
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Used in pickles, spice mixes, and crunchy toppings
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Can be toasted for a nutty, herbal flavour
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Young green seed pods (shiso berries) are prized for pickling
Seed flavour: warm, herbal, slightly nutty
