So, I wanted to talk a bit about perilla today. Not like some super scientific breakdown, you know, but more about what I’ve found out using it myself. It’s funny how you stumble onto things sometimes.
There was this phase, maybe a year or two back, where I just felt… blah. Always catching little sniffles, feeling a bit off after meals, nothing major, but just not 100%. I’m the kind of person who likes to tinker with natural stuff, you know, before rushing off for pills for every little thing. My grandma was a bit like that, always had some herb brewing for something.
My First Real Encounter
Anyway, I’d seen perilla around, mostly in Asian markets, sometimes called shiso. Knew it was used in cooking, pretty leaves, nice smell. But I hadn’t really used it, used it. Then one day, I was at a friend’s place, and she made this amazing seafood dish. I was like, “What’s that amazing flavor in there?” And she points to these purple-ish leaves. Perilla! She mentioned her mom always used it, said it was good for “balancing” rich foods, especially seafood, you know, to prevent any… uh… tummy troubles later. That got me thinking.
I picked some up on my next grocery run. Started simple. My first experiment was just chopping it up and throwing it into salads. Gave a nice, almost minty, slightly peppery kick. I liked it. Then I remembered my friend’s comment about seafood. So, next time I made fish, I threw a few leaves in while it was cooking. And you know what? Whether it was placebo or not, I felt like my digestion was a bit smoother that evening. I’m prone to feeling a bit heavy after certain meals, but this time, not so much.
Then came the real test. I woke up one morning feeling that tell-tale scratch in my throat, head all stuffy. Ugh, another cold coming on. I remembered reading somewhere, maybe some old forum, that perilla tea was a thing for colds. I was skeptical, honestly. Tea from a salad leaf? Sounded a bit weird. But I figured, what the heck, can’t hurt. So, I washed a few leaves, poured some hot water over them, let it steep. The aroma itself was quite something – really fresh and a bit spicy.
- I drank a cup. Then another a few hours later.
- Slowly, I felt like my sinuses weren’t quite as clogged.
- It wasn’t a miracle cure, don’t get me wrong, but it seemed to help me feel a bit more comfortable, like it was clearing things out a bit.
I started doing this more regularly whenever I felt a cold coming on. And more often than not, it seemed to take the edge off. My wife, who’s usually the first to roll her eyes at my “experiments,” even started asking for “that leafy tea” when she felt under the weather.
More Than Just a Garnish
So, yeah, for me, perilla went from being just a fancy garnish to something I actually use. I still toss it in my food all the time – soups, stir-fries, even in some rice dishes. It just brightens things up. And that little bit of digestive comfort I feel? Bonus. Plus, when I’m feeling a bit congested, that tea is my go-to.
It’s not like I’m saying it’s a cure-all for everything. But in my own little world, in my kitchen and for my minor sniffles, it’s been a pretty neat discovery. It’s funny how these simple plants, the ones people have been using for ages, still have a place. You just gotta be willing to try them out, you know? Not just read about them, but actually get your hands dirty, brew that tea, or chop those leaves. That’s how you really find out, I guess. For me, perilla’s a keeper.
