#shiso

We went back to the old campground that we visited last week, but earlier in the evening so we had more time to explore. So odd seeing this place where we used to picnic back in college in such disrepair, but it was great for foraging. And so many places to park that I could actually use a basket (snicker). Headed back home with beautyberry leaves and twigs (to make a bug repellant balm), shiso, American plantain, and a sprig of St. John’s wort.

Went for a drive yesterday evening and stopped by a campground that we used to have picnics at. Sad to see it so overrun in a way, but silver lining is it’s turned into a decent place to forage.

Found a huge patch of shiso. I’ve been using a jar from last year in my teas—I’ll dry what I found yesterday and then I’ll compare to see how last years is holding up. That jar is probably close to a year old (yes, this is a reminder to date my current harvest).

Also found some dandelion and a new to me plant called frogfruit that is apparently medicinal. I foraged a little to dry and explore. It has charming little flowers and I had to stop and visit with her when she caught my eye.

It is native here and widely naturalized across tropical and subtropical zones worldwide, including regions in Asia, Africa, Australia, and southern Europe.

I used foraged herbs from several different spots along the mouth of the bayou, the lake and the Arkansas River for this blend.

Ingredients:

2 tsp clustered mountain mint

1 tsp spotted bee balm

1 tsp shiso

1/2 tsp blackberry leaves

8 oz boiled water

Elderflower syrup or other sweetener to taste

Directions:

Steep 8-10 minutes, then strain

Drink plain or stir in elderflower syrup or other sweetener to taste

This made a fairly strongly flavored herbal tea; the floral notes of the elderflower lightened the resinous flavor of the beebalm.

⚠️ Clustered mountain mint and slender mountain mint (species of Pycnanthemum) contain volatile oils such as pulegone, menthone, and other terpenes, amounts vary significantly by species, growing conditions, and even the individual plant. Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata) is rich in thymol and carvacrol, which are also potent aromatic compounds.

Taken to excess these compounds can be damaging to the liver, though my reading suggests that that would be more likely with essential oils than herbal teas. However, this will be an occasional pleasure tea, rather than an everyday tea.

紫蘇肉味噌丼、鴨肉のスープ、自家製キムチと納豆とアミエビとゴマをあわせた冷奴（上から胡麻油をたらす）、らっきょうトマト。

Meat Miso(Minced Pork & Home-Grown Shiso Leaves) Rice Bowl Dinner - May 2026

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I haven’t been able to find much about this one in my usual print sources, but I did find mention of it in books on traditional Chinese medicine. I mostly used it for cooking last year, it’s popular in Japanese and Korean cuisines. But this year I’ve been experimenting with it in teas for settling the stomach.

The bottom article mentions that it is called rattlesnake plant in the Ozarks because of the tall stalks of rattling seeds. I hadn’t heard that before, but I like it. Down below you can see a photo I took of the stalks poking out of the snow. When we moved into the valley early this spring, I located new patches by finding the dried stalks before new leaves even popped up.

The bottom article has some warnings; most of my research has indicated that cattle who died from eating it, ate huge quantities during drought when plants they normally ate were not abundant. Please do your own research to inform your decisions whether to use this plant.

Made with freshly foraged shiso from out by the lake.