Herb
Hojiso
B tier
Hojiso refers to shiso flower spikes and budding tips—the hojiso garnish of Japanese cuisine, milder and more floral than mature leaf, used with sashimi and sunomono. Harvest before full seed set for best tenderness. A seasonal delicacy when plants bolt. Taste is shiso perfume without full leaf tannin.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
Fresh SpikeGarnishSashimiSunomono
Traits
FloralFlower SpikeMildMild FloralSashimi GarnishSeasonal
History
JP
Japanese cooks used hojiso flower spikes as a refined seasonal garnish.
JP
Markets sold hojiso tips in summer alongside leaf bunches.
High-end sushi bars abroad imported or grew hojiso for authenticity.
Home growers learned to harvest flower spikes as hojiso before seeding.