Artemisia princeps
Artemisia princeps, also called Yomogi, Japanese mugwort, Korean wormwood, Korean mugwort or first wormwood in English, is an Asian plant species in the sunflower family, native to China, Japan and Korea. It is a perennial, very vigorous plant that grows to 1.2 meters. This species spreads rapidly by means of underground stolons and can become invasive. It bears small, buff-colored flowers from July to November which are hermaphroditic, and pollinated by wind. The leaves are feather shaped, scalloped and light green, with white dense fuzz on the underside. Distribution. "Artemisia princeps" is native to China, Japan and  Korea. It has been introduced into Belgium and the Netherlands. Uses. Culinary. Leaves and young seedlings can be eaten raw or cooked. They can also be used in salads and soups after removal of the bitterness. Japan. In Japan the herb is used to flavor glutinous rice dumplings called "kusa mochi" () or "yomogi mochi" (), or rice flour dumplings called "kusa dango" (). The young leaves can be lightly boiled before being pounded and added to which they give a pleasant colour, aroma and flavour. Because of this use, the "Artemesia" plant is also called "mochigusa" (, though it is also called "mogusa  in reference to its use in moxibustion). The plant is also actively grown in the state of Hawaii, and used for making the herbal mochi" by residents of Japanese descent. The leaves are occasionally blanched and added to soups or rice in Japanese cuisine. Korea. Mugwort, referred to as "ssuk" (쑥) in Korean, is widely used in Korean cuisine as well as in traditional medicine ("hanyak"). In spring, which is the harvesting season, the young leaves of mugwort are used to prepare savory dishes such as "jeon" (Korean-style pancakes), "ssuk kimchi", (쑥김치), "ssukguk" (쑥국, soup made with "ssuk"). Most  commonly, however, fresh mugwort as well as dried leaves ground into powder are a characteristic ingredient in various types of "tteok" (rice cakes). Today, "ssuk" also adds flavor and color to more contemporary desserts and beverages, e.g. ice cream, breads, cakes, mugwort tea ("ssukcha" 쑥차) and "ssuk" latte (쑥라떼). Medicinal. "Artemisia princeps" is one of the species of mugwort used as in moxibustion, a traditional medical practice of China, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and Vietnam. China. In China it is known as "huanghua ai" (, literally yellow-flower mugwort). In culture. Myth. Korea. In Korea, it is called "ssuk" (쑥) or  tarae ssuk (타래쑥) which is deeply related to Dangun Sinhwa (단군신화), legend of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom. To ancient people in Korea, "ssuk" was one of the food that was believed to have medicinal or religious value. In the foundation myth of Gojoseon in 2333 BCE, eating nothing but 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of "ssuk" for 100 days let a bear be transformed into a woman.