Dried Red Shiso Leaves & Stalks – Perilla frutescens Crispa | Natural Dye, Tea & Culinary
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$11.99
$11.99 - $38.99
per item
Red Shiso (also known as Purple Perilla, Beefsteak Plant, or Japanese Basil) is a striking, aromatic herb with deep purple-red leaves. Prized for natural dyeing (beautiful pinks, purples, greens & grays) as well as culinary use in teas, Asian dishes, pickling, and more.
Hand-harvested by me about halfway up the stalks, solar-dried in my greenhouse (leaves + stalks included). Grown organically on my small West Virginia homestead — no sprays, no chemicals.
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Great for natural dyeing, herbal teas, Japanese/Korean cooking, or traditional uses. Whole dried stalks & leaves — just break or crumble as needed.
Hand-harvested by me about halfway up the stalks, solar-dried in my greenhouse (leaves + stalks included). Grown organically on my small West Virginia homestead — no sprays, no chemicals.
- 1 oz (28 g): (starter size — good for tests or small teas/dye batches)
- 2 oz (57 g):
- 4 oz (113 g): (best value for dyers or regular tea users)
Choose your pack using the dropdown menu below.
Quick How to Choose:
Great for natural dyeing, herbal teas, Japanese/Korean cooking, or traditional uses. Whole dried stalks & leaves — just break or crumble as needed.
Natural Dye Use
Red Shiso is an excellent dye plant thanks to its anthocyanin-rich leaves. It produces lovely pinks, purples, teals, and greens.
Basic Dye Stock Recipe:
Color Possibilities (with mordants/modifiers):
Tips: Whole stalks & leaves work well — break them up for better extraction. Excellent for bundle/Eco-printing too. Colors can shift and are somewhat pH-sensitive.
Culinary & Tea Uses
Red Shiso has a unique minty-basil-anise flavor. Popular in Japanese and Korean cooking:
Traditional & Homestead Notes
Grown chemical-free in my biodiverse garden. I cut the stalks mid-season and solar-dry them whole in large paper bags for maximum flavor and pigment retention. Rich in antioxidants; used in traditional Asian medicine for respiratory support, digestion, and more.
Feel good knowing you’re getting homegrown, non-GMO material from a small one-woman farm. I work with Mother Nature — no sprays or treatments.
Need help? Please contact me and I'll do my best to assist you.
Images may appear different on different devices and screens.
Red Shiso is an excellent dye plant thanks to its anthocyanin-rich leaves. It produces lovely pinks, purples, teals, and greens.
Basic Dye Stock Recipe:
- Use 25–50% Weight of Fiber (WOF) or more for good color (e.g., 25–50 g dried material per 100 g fiber).
- Cover with water and soak overnight if possible.
- Simmer gently 30–60 minutes, strain, then add pre-mordanted fiber. Simmer/steep (often overnight for better uptake).
Color Possibilities (with mordants/modifiers):
- Alum → pinks, purples, lavender
- Iron → grays, teals, darker tones
- No mordant or pH shifts (vinegar/acid or soda ash) → brighter pinks, greens, or softer hues
Tips: Whole stalks & leaves work well — break them up for better extraction. Excellent for bundle/Eco-printing too. Colors can shift and are somewhat pH-sensitive.
Culinary & Tea Uses
Red Shiso has a unique minty-basil-anise flavor. Popular in Japanese and Korean cooking:
- Brew as a refreshing herbal tea (hot or iced) — traditionally used for its potential benefits.
- Make vibrant red Shiso juice/syrup (with lemon/sugar) for drinks or coloring pickled foods.
- Crumble into rice (furikake-style), salads, marinades, or as a garnish.
- Use in pickling brines (colors umeboshi plums pink-red).
Traditional & Homestead Notes
Grown chemical-free in my biodiverse garden. I cut the stalks mid-season and solar-dry them whole in large paper bags for maximum flavor and pigment retention. Rich in antioxidants; used in traditional Asian medicine for respiratory support, digestion, and more.
Feel good knowing you’re getting homegrown, non-GMO material from a small one-woman farm. I work with Mother Nature — no sprays or treatments.
Need help? Please contact me and I'll do my best to assist you.
Images may appear different on different devices and screens.