Perilla tea (紫苏茶, Zǐ Sū Chá) is made from the dried leaves of Perilla frutescens, which is called Zi Su in China and Shiso in Japan.
Perilla leaf is traditional Chinese medicine and is called Zi Su Ye in China. Zi means “purple” and Ye means “leaf”.
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What Is Perilla Tea
Perilla frutescens has been cultivated in China for more than 2,000 years, and it was called Ren in ancient China. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-8 AD), there was an ancient book <Qi Fa>, which recorded the eating method of fish fillets with perilla leaf. This method was later spread to Japan and perilla leaf also became a common spice in Japan.
After people discovered the medicinal effect of perilla leaf, it gradually became a medicinal and food material, and it was recorded in many traditional Chinese medicine books.
In modern times, people began to study some of the bioactive properties of perilla leaf and developed diversified products in the fields of skincare, medical treatment, and non-staple food. The research content has also expanded from perilla leaf to perilla stem, perilla seed, and other parts of Perilla frutescens.
Perilla tea is a kind of tea with medicinal value. In ancient China, it was mainly used to treat wind-cold influenza, stuffy nose, runny rose, and chills.
Nowadays, people regard perilla tea as a kind of healthy tea. It is very popular in Japan and is called shiso tea.
How to Make Perilla Tea
Wash the dried perilla leaves, tear them into small pieces, and put them into a cup. Add boiling water and steep them for 5 minutes. According to your taste, you can add sugar or honey.
If in winter, you can cut ginger into slices, and then add perilla leaves together to brew. It can expel cold, warm the body, and prevent cold.
In addition, perilla leaf can be brewed with mint, licorice, green tea, etc. They will have different medicinal effects.
Benefits of Perilla Tea
Perilla tea has many medicinal effects. It can be used to treat disease or keep healthy.
Anti-Aging
Perilla leaf is rich in a high fiber, carotene, trace elements, etc., which can inhibit active oxygen and have the effect of delaying aging.
Antibacterial
Perilla leaf can inhibit Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli.
Boost Immune System
Perilla leaf contains a variety of nutrients, which can boost the immune system.
Prevent and Treat Cold
This is a common effect of perilla tea. It is used to treat and prevent cold, especially for wind-cold. The medicinal property of Perilla leaf is warm, which can expel the cold in the body and relieve the cold symptoms such as a stuffy nose, runny rose, and chills.
Prevent and Treat Chronic Bronchitis
In traditional Chinese medicine, perilla leaf belongs to the two meridians of the lungs and spleen. It has a good therapeutic effect on respiratory diseases such as bronchitis.
If you have a cough, phlegm in the throat, and other respiratory symptoms, you can drink some perilla tea for treatment.
In addition to the above effects, perilla tea also has the effects of calming the nerves and helping digestion.
Side Effects of Perilla Tea
Perilla tea has almost no side effects. But some people may have some uncomfortable symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and so on. If you experience these symptoms, just stop drinking it in time and these symptoms will disappear.
Perilla leaf contains perillaldehyde, which has the effect of raising blood sugar, so patients with high blood sugar should not drink it. But it can be clinically used for people with low blood sugar.
Pregnant women can drink an appropriate amount of perilla tea for disease treatment under the guidance of a doctor.