Zi Su (Perilla frutescens) — Dried Perilla Leaf & Stem, Food Herb for Tea & Soup

Zi Su (Perilla frutescens) is the dried leaf and stem of a beloved traditional food herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Zǐ Sū (紫苏), also called Red Perilla, Su Ma, or Shui Sheng Ma. For centuries, Zi Su has been prized as a warming, qi-moving, and exterior-releasing herb, traditionally used to ease the early stages of wind-cold, support digestion, and settle the stomach. Its nature is warm and pungent, making it a gentle yet effective herb for dispersing cold, moving stagnation, and harmonizing the middle burner.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional food herb (药食同源) for tea and soup
• Dried Perilla leaf and stem, naturally sun-dried
• Perilla frutescens, also known as Red Perilla
• Warm, pungent nature for dispersing cold
• 500g value pack for daily kitchen and tea use

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is naturally sun-dried to preserve the leaf's deep green-to-purple hue, delicate texture, and distinctive fresh, mint-like aroma. When brewed, the leaves release a warm, slightly spicy, and refreshing flavor with a gentle herbal sweetness, while the stems add a milder, earthy note to decoctions and soups.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Herbal tea for seasonal warmth
• Chinese-style soup and broth
• Congee and grain porridge
• Seafood seasoning and culinary use
• Daily food-herb wellness routine

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Zi Su is decocted into teas, soups, and congee to support the body during seasonal transitions. It is a classic ingredient in wind-cold formulas, often paired with ginger and jujube, and is used in seafood dishes to ease digestion and reduce fishy odors. As a daily tea, it is brewed alone or blended with mint and tangerine peel for a warm, aromatic infusion.

FAQ Q&A