'Chinese' Parsley

I was given this by a French chef who called it Chinese Parsley, but Google seems to think that that is an alternative name for Coriander Could anyone tell me what it is please? It looks as though it belongs in the Labiatiae, square stems, bit hairy, smells like a cross between mint and parsley.....

 

It seems that the nearest match is Perilla...japanese, not chinese . Someone's about to have a quick geography lesson....

 

Not seen that before

 

Neither had I, Zigs, despite having tried to grow it years ago..nothing germinated.
It's an annual, Perilla frutescens, common names japanese parsley (shiso) and chinese basil.
Reputed to tenderise meat, so could be very useful over here!
P.S. the wonderful african blue basil is still going strong

 

Perilla is lovely to eat. You can garnish sushi rice with dried perilla leaves - it also forms part of many kinds of "Furikake" , a seasoning for rice. It generally turns rice a lovely purple colour, it is good to see the plant in real life growing!

 

Glad the Welsh jumping basil survived the winter @noisette47

Can't stand rice Topps

 

I have never seen it before either. Good to know one more plant.

 

Just eat the grain then ... sitting down

 

Not coriander.