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Perilla oil, which is called egoma-abura in Japanese, is extracted from the seeds of the plant Perilla frutescens. Perilla is often used to describe the shiso plant common for culinary uses: this is actually a different variety although a close relative. Recently perilla oil has become popular for the large amount of naturally-occurring omega-3 fatty acids it contains - in particular, alpha-linolenic acid.
Our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites such as Amazon, Rakuten, and supermarkets for the best perilla oils available online. We then picked out the most popular products and tested them.
We focused on 2 things:
We then ranked the products and put what we learned into a buying guide to help you choose the best Japanese perilla oils available online.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
Perilla oil is pressed from the seeds of Perilla frutescens, a perennial plant in the Labiatae family. In Korea and in the Hida region of Japan, this oil has been consumed since ancient times, but now it is gaining worldwide recognition for its health effects.
Alpha-linolenic acid is an essential omega-3 fatty acid which is converted to DHA and EPA in the body. This acid is not produced by the human body, so it must be obtained through food.
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recommends a daily intake of 0.6 to 0.8 ounces of omega-3s for adults. You'd need to eat about 3 oily fish per day, or a large amount of walnuts or soybeans to reach this goal. However, you can achieve this healthy target with only one teaspoon of perilla oil!
Although its effects are still being researched, the fact that it helps the body to produce DHA and EPA--which in turn lower bad cholesterol and convert it to good cholesterol--make alpha-linoleic acid a sought-after supplement. There is evidence that it improves blood flow; suppresses allergies; slows aging; improves brain function; and helps to prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes.
It could also be beneficial for those who suffer from allergic dermatitis. Many processed foods such as bread, mayonnaise, and instant noodles contain high amounts of the omega-6 fatty acid (non-alpha) linolenic acid. An overdose of this acid can lead to allergic reactions and heart disease, but this can be balanced by consuming more omega-3s.
Not all products are the same, and there are many on the market. There are three points to consider when choosing a perilla oil.
There are two main pressing methods used when making perilla oil: with heat and without heat. Here are the characteristics of each.
Perilla oil is made by pressing the seeds and separating the oil. Cold-pressing is not expensive, but it takes longer, so some manufacturers use heat to process oils.
The problem with this, though, is that temperatures for this method can range from 140 to 410 degrees Fahrenheit, and alpha-linolenic acid is very heat-sensitive and deteriorates quickly. Think cold-pressed juice.
Cold-pressing means that the seeds are heated to about 100℉, dried, then pressed to extract the oil without losing nutrients.
Another method is raw pressing. The seeds are not heated at all, but rather pressed as they are. This method provides a very fresh product, and is recommended by the Japanese Egoma (Perilla) Promotion Association.
However, it's incredibly time-consuming, which means it's also more expensive. If you're concerned about freshness, though, this is the way to go.
There is one other method to obtain oils, which is chemical extraction. A solvent is used to dissolve the oil efficiently, but this results in severe destruction of nutrients. This method is not very common for perilla oil, and most manufacturers avoid it. But we recommend being cautious about perilla oils that don't list an extraction method.
If you're buying perilla oil for health reasons, you definitely want to get one with the most alpha-linolenic acid possible. You might think, "Well, it's healthy, so if it doesn't have much alpha-linolenic acid, I'll just eat more!" But it's still oil, and eating too much oil leads to increased cholesterol and weight gain.
The recommended daily intake for alpha-linoleic acid is about 0.07 ounces, so if the oil contains about 60%, you can get the amount you need in half a teaspoon. When the amount is reduced to 30%, you'd need two spoonfuls.
Perilla oil oxidizes easily, and this causes the smell and taste to change. It's best to use it up within one to two months after opening to avoid yucky oil. If you plan to eat a spoonful every day, you'll use up about a six-ounce bottle each month.
Storage methods are important too - keep it in a cool, dark place before opening, store it in the refrigerator after opening, and use it up as quickly as possible. There are some products which come in light-shielding bottles or paper boxes; these are helpful, too.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Osawa Osawa Perilla Oil | $24.92 High Mid | mybest's Top Choice! Anyone Can Enjoy This in Everyday Cuisine | ||
2 | Okuizumo Nakamura Farm Okuizumo Perilla Oil | $35.79 High Mid | The Freshest Perilla Oil You Can Buy! | ||
3 | Cococure Extra Virgin Cold Pressed 100% Organic Perilla Oil | $35.79 High Mid | The Best Organic Perilla Oil | ||
4 | Hida Egome Honpo Organic Life Raw Pressed Perilla Oil | $26.60 High Mid | A Tasty Perilla Oil to Add to Anything | ||
5 | Ota Oils Perilla Seed Oil | $9.68 Low Mid | A Great Oil with Neutral Taste and Color That Pairs With Any Dish | ||
6 | Choshiro Kobo Organic JAS Cold-pressed Extra Virgin Perilla Oil | $16.59 Mid | The Best Perilla Oil for Beginners | ||
7 | Asahi Asahi Perilla Oil | $9.05 Low Mid | The Perilla Oil That's Easiest to Eat By Itself | ||
8 | SSB Perilla Oil | $11.41 Low Mid | A Well-rounded Choice With a Unique Fragrance | ||
9 | Benibana Foods Perilla Oil | $11.61 Low Mid | Recommended as a Mild, Rich Salad Dressing |
Delicious! Most perilla oils have a distinctly grassy flavor, but this oil from Osawa has a fresh smell like nuts and sesame, and the flavor lingers on the palate. If you like sesame oil, you'll have no problem finding culinary uses for this. We would drizzle it over grilled meats, stir-fries, or rice bowls.
Add to that the fact that it has the highest percentage of alpha-linolenic acid of all the ones we tested, and that the perilla is grown in Japan, and we can safely recommend this as our favorite perilla oil!
This oil is not pressed until a customer orders it, so it's absolutely fresh, and it tastes like it, too. The aroma is reminiscent of green tea and matcha. The taste is slightly sweet, deep, and rich, with a refreshing aftertaste that has no bitterness or astringency.
Its alpha-linolenic acid content is almost as high as our number one choice. In fact, the only reason it wasn't a dead tie is that some of our tasters didn't like the mouthfeel of this oil. Although the texture is crisp, it lingers a bit on the tongue.
This oil is high in alpha-linolenic acid and perfect for health-conscious users who want an organic product. It tasted like sesame oil and stimulated our appetites. It would be great drizzled over a salad.
The aroma spreads from your mouth to your nose. However, it does linger on the tongue a bit, and some people might not like that.
This company uses its homegrown perilla exclusively. They then press it and bottle it in attractive packaging. We think it's nice enough to earn a place on your dinner table, where you can easily drizzle it over salads, desserts, or stir it into drinks. The oil is smooth and has good mouthfeel, and the light flavor will match with any food.
If you taste-test this oil, it has a slightly grassy flavor, but when combined with other foods, the taste is light and hardly noticeable.
The color and texture are also neutral and won't overwhelm any dish you add it to. The bottle is well-designed, and the cap allows the oil to drizzle out slowly, so it's perfect for using as an everyday addition to meals.
This oil is certified organic by the JAS, EU, and USDA. It comes in a light-shielding bottle which protects the contents from oxidation. The oil is thick and pairs well with vegetables.
It has a faint smell of green tea that isn't overpowering. The taste, reminiscent of sesame and legumes, spreads out in your mouth and becomes addictive. It has little aftertaste, and we think this is a great choice for those not used to the flavor of perilla oil.
Although it certainly pairs well with food, if you prefer to ingest your daily dose by the spoonful, this is a good choice. It has a low viscosity and soft fragrance, with a faint sesame aftertaste. In fact, it's much more watery than the other oils we tested, so it's perfect for those who don't want a greasy mouthfeel.
This oil has a smooth texture which can be easily incorporated into your meals. If you prefer to eat it by the spoonful, it won't be hard to stomach either, as it doesn't have a strong mouthfeel.
What we liked best was the aroma, however. Instead of the usual grassy or green tea smell, it reminded us of toasted Korean seaweed that made us want to guzzle it down! And the triangular bottle would look nice sitting out on your counter, too.
This oil is mechanically-processed in China, so those who prefer Japanese products may avoid it. It has a taste that got mixed reviews. It wasn't bitter or medicinal, but the mouthfeel was a bit sticky.
However, the flavor is mild and would match any dish. Because of the thick viscosity, we think it would be best drizzled over a salad or used in homemade dressing.
We tested each product to find out how it tasted and how much alpha-linolenic acid it offered.
We calculated the amount of alpha-linolenic acid each product contained by converting the amounts listed on the packaging into percentages. After all, that's the main reason for buying this oil. But would higher amounts give it a medicinal taste?
Our results showed that taste is not affected by alpha-linolenic content, so there's no reason to choose one with a low percentage. Of the ones we tested, the acid levels ranged from a high of 68% to 12% in a blended oil, with the average for all products being 60%. We definitely recommend choosing one with a high content to get the health benefits without having to consume too much oil.
If you want to get the health benefits of perilla oil, you need to ingest it every day. That will be hard to do if it doesn't taste good! The ones we tested ranged from affordable ones available at supermarkets to more expensive high-grade oils.
Our tests showed that ones produced domestically in Japan were the most palatable. Many of the Japanese ones also were refreshingly scented or almost odorless, and very easy to ingest. In particular, the oil from SSB had a very good mouthfeel that wasn't too oily.
On the other hand, if the flavor and the texture are too rich and thick, the oil will overpower the flavor of the dish that you use it in. It will also be unpalatable if you take it by the spoonful. Since you're ideally going to eat this everyday, make sure that it's something that you can enjoy the taste of.
If you don't want to just drink a spoonful of oil, here are some recommended ways to eat it:
Remember that heating it will ruin its beneficial effects, so use it just as it is.
Oxidized oil turns into lipid peroxide, which can cause arteriosclerosis and cancer! In addition, overdosing can lead to elevated cholesterol and can cause diarrhea. Store your oil properly, and don't eat more than the recommended amount of a spoonful a day.
Perilla oil isn't all you need to stay healthy, of course. Here are even more options to try out. Go and live your best life!
No. 1: Osawa|Osawa Perilla Oil
No. 2: Okuizumo Nakamura Farm|Okuizumo Perilla Oil
No. 3: Cococure|Extra Virgin Cold Pressed 100% Organic Perilla Oil
No. 4: Hida Egome Honpo|Organic Life Raw Pressed Perilla Oil
No. 5: Ota Oils|Perilla Seed Oil
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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