Ssampler Pack Week 1: Kkaennip Two Ways

Welcome to our first Ssampler Pack! We’re doing a deep dive into Perilla, starting of course, with our kkaennip.

Perilla is classified as a single species genus in Western taxonomy, but for anyone from Korea, Japan, China or Viet Nam, we know that Perilla is anything but a monolith. In Asia, Perilla is categorized into 6 or 7 distinct chemotypes, based on the combinations and concentrations of various essential oil compounds.

We have focused on Kkaennip in various ways, adapting our variety, 38N to the hot, dry conditions of California’s Central Valley, while also trying to preserve various landrace varieties from different regions in Korea.

But this week, we want to look at a single variety, grown in varying conditions to understand the ways in which a plant’s environment will shape some of what we experience in terms of flavor and texture.

Light plays a significant role in the life cycle of Perilla. From needing to sense light in order to germinate, to having their reproductive cycle triggered by shortening day lengths, their physiology is firmly tied to their relationship to light and dark. The varying wavelengths present in visible light affect all plant growth. Different spectra are sensed by unique photoreceptors within a plant, that activate or regulate growth processes.

Here you can see the range of light spectra and the physiological processes they are responsible for

Those relationships between photoreceptors and wavelengths also affect the production of antioxidant compounds, which we then experience as flavor and nutrition.

Photoreceptor mediated production of antioxidant compounds

As exciting as these diagrams are, the best way to understand this is to taste the difference. In this package, you have some kkaennip grown in open field conditions, as well as some grown in an area that is slightly cooler, and receives shade for about 70%of the day.

We can notice that our plants grown in the shade grow taller, and tend to be less bushy, while the ones in the open field produce more substantial side growth, usually activating four primary growth points. Shade grown ones have a little less intense pigmentation on the undersides of the leaf, but are darker green on top.

We’re curious to hear from you all, what are your thoughts in terms of flavor and texture? How do the different characteristics lend themselves to the dishes you like to enjoy kkaennip with?

You can help us by adding your feedback or joining our Seed Stewards community where you can share recipes, thoughts or ask questions.