Perilla Red aka Shiso aka Beefsteak Plant

Rare Edible Herb Edimental

An annual herb growing to 60cm with the taste being a combination of basil/mint/anise with aromatic notes of cinnamon/ clove/ cumin. An outstanding flavour in Eastern cuisines, the red variety is an attractive addition to the vegetable garden and the ruffled pleated leaves are used as a vibrant tea, natural food dye for pickles and are delicious dried and ground into flavoured salts.

Growing: Plant height 60cm

Sowing: Early spring sowing. Cold stratifying helps mimic Eastern winters and aids germination. Needs light to germinate so surface sowing in trays is recommended using a cover to lock moisture in. Although I have had volunteers during Cape Town's warm winter.

Quantity: 25 seeds