Perilla

Perilla

Perilla ocymoides

Asia

In Asia, they call it ‘shiso’ but perilla also has other names such as purple mint, Japanese basil or the beefsteak plant. It is widely used in Asian cuisine and in the medical field for its anti-allergenic and antioxidant virtues. Perilla seeds produce an oil which has a very high content of omega-3, an essential fatty acid the skin is unable to synthesize.