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Glite Dictionary
shiso

shiso

1 9.2
A green herb used in Japanese cooking for flavor and garnish
  • noun
  • /ˈʃiːsoʊ/
: shiso
  • This sushi is garnished with fresh shiso leaves for added flavor.
  • shiso leaf
  • shiso, an aromatic herb
  • cucumber and shiso

Examples

  • Shiso and rice vinegar.

    Bad News Bears (2005)

  • Big Ben shiso bourbon cookie.

    The Roses (2025)

  • Pungent and foreign, I can only describe it in relation to a totally different taste: Japanese shiso leaf.

    Blog text (9)

  • And there's micro shiso, micro mint, finger lime cells, lime zest and rings of Fresno chilies.

  • The chef adds shiso to the dish to enhance its aroma and taste.

  • You can use shiso in salads to give them a unique herbal kick.

Synonyms

oregano
vsshiso
29 2.4

A herb with a strong smell used to add flavor to food like pizza or sauces

is native to East Asia and commonly used as a garnish or flavoring
tarragon
vsshiso
11 5.8

An herb with narrow leaves used to add a fresh, slightly sweet taste to food

is used both as a garnish and as a flavoring
Chinese parsley
vsshiso
1 2.8

A green herb with flat leaves used to add fresh flavor to food

is native to East Asia, especially Japan, not just a common garnish

Surface Forms

shiso singular
shisos plural

Etymology

Shiso comes from Japanese and from the Chinese 紫蘇, which means 'purple perilla' or simply 'purple herb'. That's why shiso names the purple or green leaf used on sushi and in salads to add a fresh, slightly spicy taste.