Vietnamese perilla (tía tô), botanically Perilla frutescens, is one of those herbs that instantly makes food taste “Vietnamese” in a way you can’t fake with parsley. It’s aromatic, slightly minty, slightly anise-like, and perfect in summer rolls, noodle bowls, cháo, salads, grilled meats, and anything that needs that fresh herbal punch. Growing perilla from seed is absolutely doable, but it has one big requirement: warmth consistent moisture during germination. People usually fail because they e