Food

Food Information

Mushrooms

WOOD EAR

Wood Ear, Auricila polytricha A.K.A.: Tree Ear, Dry Black Fungus, Silver Ear, Mook Yee. Cloud Ear (a similar, but different species)
Flavor and Texture: delicate forest aroma and flavor; springy soft texture that becomes crunchy when cooked.
Description: flattened plate-like caps span 1-8 inches across and conform to a wave of convoluted curls and crevices - like an ear.
Note: widely respected in the Orient, where they are believed to help prevent heart disease. these mushrooms are used in much of their cookery. They're great in stir-fry, soups and stuffing giving both visual appeal and crunchiness in texture. Once available only dried, they are now marketed in fresh form also from several purveyors in the northwestern United States.