Mugwort, Japanese mugwort
Artemisia princeps

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb or small shrub. It grows 80-150 cm tall. The leaves have short leaf stalks. The leaves have a covering underneath. The leaves in the middle of the stem are oval and 6-12 cm long by 4-8 cm wide and are divided into 2 pairs of segments alogn the stalk.

There are about 300 Artemisia species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on slopes and the edges of forests between 100-1,400 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The leaves and young seedlings are eaten in salads and soups. The bitterness is first removed. They slightly boiled leaves are pounded and add flavour, colour and aroma to rice. They are used for tea and for fermentation.

It is an important flavouring herb in Japanese and Korean cooking.

Edible parts

Leaves, seedlings

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ssuk, Yomogi

Synonyms

Probably now Artemisia indica;