Food

Food Information

Mushrooms

SHIITAKE

Shiitake, Lentinus edodes
A.K.A.: Black Forest Mushroom, Chinese Mushroom
Flavor and Texture: hearty woodsy flavor; meatier texture than ordinary cultivated mushrooms.
Description: dusty brown cap measures 1-4 inches across and may feel slightly oily or flaky. It is flat or slightly curled under on the edges, and the gills underneath are very fine and tightly packed, ending abruptly where they fuse with the long, thin and inedible stalk.
Note: the Japanese gave this mushroom its name. Discovered most frequently growing at the base of Japanese oak conifers called "shii trees," the shiitake was thus dubbed. Shiitakes were a common device for cures in ancient Chinese folk medicine. Believed to provide relief from all kinds of ailments, some of the therapeutic effects of shiitakes have been validated by modern western medicine. Shiitakes are effective anti-viral agents; they can help to lower blood cholesterol levels, aiding in the treatment of heart disease, and they've even been applied successfully in the fight against cancer. Shiitakes are also nutrient-rich. They are one of the few non-animal sources of vitamin B-12 and also contain significant levels of phosphorus, calcium, iron and vitamin D.