Zi Su Zi (Perilla frutescens) — Dried White Perilla Seeds, Food-Herb for Tea & Cooking

Zi Su Zi (Perilla frutescens) are the dried ripe seeds of a highly revered food herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Zǐ Sū Zǐ (紫苏籽), also called White Perilla Seed or Da Su Zi. For centuries, Su Zi has been prized as a qi-descending, lung-soothing, and phlegm-resolving herb, traditionally used to ease cough and wheezing, support smooth breathing, and calm the digestive system. Its nature is warm and pungent, making it a gentle yet effective herb for directing qi downward and harmonizing the Lung and Large Intestine channels.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional food-herb (药食同源) seed
• Dried white perilla seeds, new-crop quality
• Perilla frutescens botanical identity
• Suitable for teas, soups, and culinary use
• Bulk 500g pack from Chinese origin

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully dried to preserve its small, rounded seed form, pale grey-white color, and clean, faintly nutty aroma. When lightly toasted, the seeds release a warm, gently pungent fragrance; when brewed or simmered, they yield a mild, subtly sweet and earthy infusion with a soft, oily mouthfeel that carries other herbs and ingredients well.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Herbal tea blends and daily infusions
• Chinese-style soups and broths
• Congee and grain porridge
• Culinary seasoning and baking
• Soup-pack and medicinal food combos

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Zi Su Zi is decocted into soups, congee, and gentle daily teas to support smooth breathing and comfortable digestion. It is a common ingredient in autumn and winter soup packs, where it pairs with ingredients like apricot kernel, tangerine peel, and honey-fried licorice. As a tea, it is brewed alone or blended with perilla leaf and ginger for a warm, mildly pungent infusion, and in culinary traditions the seeds are toasted and used to flavor pastries, rice dishes, and pickles.

FAQ Q&A