Petite® Red Shiso
Estimated Inventory, 4 oz : 0
This item was last sold on : 06/14/24
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Description/Taste
Petite® Shiso Red is comprised of 2 to 4 small, tapered leaves attached to slender, straight stems. The leaves are broad and flat, averaging 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter, bearing defined, serrated edges, and the surface is slightly crinkled, covered in deep purple veining. Petite® Shiso Red leaves showcase variegated dark purple and green hues, and the leaves often display a speckled appearance. The leaves also have a crisp, tender, and succulent consistency, and the thin purple stems provide a pleasant crunch. Petite® Shiso Red emits a faint aroma reminiscent of clove and cinnamon, and the fragrance is further enhanced when the leaves are lightly bruised, crushed, or torn. The greens have an initially sweet taste, followed by a unique blend of earthy, herbal, astringent, and warm, spice-like nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Petite® Shiso Red is available year-round.
Current Facts
Petite® Shiso Red is a part of a specialty line of boutique edible greens grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. The tender leaves are a slightly larger green compared to tiny microgreens, harvested approximately 4 to 6 weeks after sowing, but Petite® Greens are still smaller than mature shiso, allowing the leaves to have a more delicate nature. Fresh Origins currently grows over 125 varieties of Petite® Greens in-house, and Petite® Shiso Red is an innovative creation developed for chefs to reimagine the way shiso is used in culinary dishes. Petite® Shiso Red modernizes dishes and captures a unique mint-like, earthy flavoring in a compact, edible green. Chefs value Petite® Shiso Red for its ability to add color, flavor, and texture to culinary preparations, and its refreshing, bright taste helps to balance and cut through heavy elements in dishes. In addition to Petite® Shiso Red, Fresh Origins also offers Micro Shiso Red as a younger, more delicate alternative.
Nutritional Value
Petite® Shiso Red, like its mature counterpart, is a source of anthocyanins, colored pigments in the leaves that provide antioxidants to protect the cells against free radical damage and reduce inflammation. The leaves also provide some vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, vitamin K to assist in faster wound healing, and other amounts of iron, calcium, and phosphorus.
Applications
Petite® Shiso Red has a warm, refreshing, and slightly bitter flavor well suited as an unexpected fresh element in savory and sweet preparations. The greens are commonly incorporated raw at the end of the cooking process to prevent wilting, and a little of the herb goes a long way. Petite® Shiso Red can be a delicate garnish over tempura, floated over soups such as ramen, wrapped into spring rolls, or lightly torn and mixed into green salads and fruit bowls. The tender leaves can also be dressed and piled as a bed of greens, sprinkled over stir-fries and omelets, or placed as a decorative garnish on mousses, ice cream, and sorbet. Petite® Shiso Red has a bright flavoring that can help cut through fatty pieces of fish or meat, and the leaves are often served with sushi and sashimi for a refreshing pop of flavor. The pigment within the leaves can also be used to make shiso juice. When combined with mature shiso, the beverage develops a crimson hue, and the drink is made from a shiso-infused syrup poured over ice with sparkling water. Petite® Shiso Red can be used as a garnish over the red-hued drink. Petite® Shiso Red pairs well with seafood such as fish, crab, sea urchin, and shrimp, tofu, grilled meats such as poultry, pork, and beef, aromatics including garlic, ginger, scallions, and onion, fruits such as citrus, plums, and apples, green tea, and soft cheeses. Petite® Greens will generally keep up to seven days when stored unwashed, dry, and in a container in the refrigerator. It is recommended to use Petite® Oregano immediately for the best quality and flavor.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Shiso leaves are traditionally served with sushi and sashimi in Japan. The mature leaves are broad and pliable, allowing them to be wrapped around different items. The leaves are also used as a divider on platters with multiple items to prevent flavors from blending. Shiso is believed to have antibacterial properties, slowing sashimi from spoiling when wrapped in the greens, and the aromatic nature of the leaves assists in masking any fishy odors in seafood dishes. Beyond its traditional uses, the aesthetic nature and bright, refreshing flavoring of shiso has been recently modernized through Japanese cocktail bars. The leaves are one of the latest flavor trends in mixology, and shiso is being incorporated into cocktails as a mint substitute, adding a fresh take on classic mixes. Mixologists favor Petite® Shiso Red for its small size and delicate nature. The leaves have been mixed into mojitos, martinis, sours, highballs, and gin and tonics. Petite® Shiso Red is placed as an edible garnish on top of drinks for increased visual appeal, and mixologists slap the leaves between their palms to release additional aromatics. The leaves can also be muddled into cocktails for enhanced color, flavor, and aroma.
Geography/History
Petite® Shiso Red was developed at Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California, the leading American producer of naturally grown microgreens and Petite® Greens since the mid-1990s. Fresh Origins has been using the mild Southern California climate year-round to produce robust, healthy, and flavorful Petite® Greens, and the farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavorings. Fresh Origins also has the highest level third-party-audited food safety program and is a certified member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which follows science-based food safety practices to promote transparency and honesty in production. Today Petite® Shiso Red can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, and are also found through partners in Canada.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Petite® Red Shiso. One is easiest, three is harder.
Tarladalal | Red Shiso and Scallion microgreens tapenade |