Vegetable yakuzen– category –

Chinese cabbage is said to clear excess heat and settle the gut. Brought into a hotpot or a soup, it makes a meal that is kind to the body. In season in winter it grows sweeter and tastes better, and it works in a great many dishes.

Celery is known for its crisp texture and fresh aroma. Used in a stir-fry or a salad, that texture and aroma lift the whole dish. Added to a soup, its aroma spreads and gives a clean taste. A fresh celery has firm stalks and bright green leaves.

Mulberry leaf is bitter and sweet and cold in nature, and is a yakuzen tea ingredient held to settle excess heat trapped in the body and clear the eyes and head. Its appeal is a gentle flavour with nothing to object to, which suits a moment of rest or the times when you feel you have used your eyes too much. Dried and...

Mint is a herb that can be looked to for clearing excess heat from the body and encouraging sweating, easing trouble brought on by colds and by stress. It works in herbal tea, salads and desserts, so bringing it into everyday meals supports your health along with its aroma. Kept away from damp, it lasts a long time. A herb worth having in any season, for a change of mood and for managing how you feel.

Chrysanthemum flower is said to cool heat in the body and settle tired or red eyes in particular. It is also said to help ease trouble brought on by wind-heat. Added to tempura or a vinegared dish, it brings colour and aroma to the plate.

Mitsuba is said to ease cold and coughs brought on by wind-cold, and to improve the circulation of qi. Added to a clear soup or a hotpot, its distinctive fresh aroma lifts the whole dish. As well as warming the body, it enriches the colour and flavour of a dish, so it works across a great many of them.

Myoga is said to encourage sweating and settle the circulation of qi. Bringing it in during muggy weather helps refresh the body. Used as a garnish on chilled somen or cold tofu, its aroma comes forward and adds freshness.

Leek is said to have the power to warm the body and to help ease trouble brought on by cold. Added to a hotpot or a soup its natural sweetness spreads, and it warms you to the core. Grilled, its sweetness and roasted aroma come forward and lift the whole dish.

Coriander is said to encourage sweating and settle the circulation of qi. In muggy weather or when your appetite drops, adding it to a soup or a salad brings a fresh flavour.

Shiso is said to improve the circulation of qi and help settle the gut gently. When you want to warm a cold body, try bringing it into a soup or a hotpot.