But knowing the mushroom exists isn’t the same thing as knowing how to use it, knowing where it comes from, or why it has this name. All those – and other reasons – are why we’re here. Let’s take a look!
Shiitake Mushroom Classification
The scientific name for shiitake mushrooms is Lentinula edodes. These mushrooms are known as Shiitake, shitake, dongo, shanku, Shiang-gu, oak mushroom, black forest mushrooms, umami, and Chinese black mushrooms. Shii is Japanese for the type of evergreen tree that the shiitake mushrooms grow in, which is where they get this name (shii + take = shii mushroom). They are a member of the Marasmiaceae family. This species of mushroom is a saprotroph, meaning it feeds on dead tissue of trees.
Where Do Shiitake Mushrooms Grow?
The mushroom has taken the name of its favorite place to grow: the shii tree, a species from Japan. The mushroom also grows in groups on the decaying wood of other deciduous trees including chestnuts, oaks, maples, sweetgums, beeches, chinquapins, poplars, ironwood, mulberries, and hornbeams.
History of the Shiitake Mushroom
Shiitake mushrooms grow throughout the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia in particular, in Japan, China, and Korea, primarily on fallen logs and dead trees. The mushroom has been in use for at least 1,200 years as both a food and traditional medicinal ingredient throughout East Asia. The earliest written record of the mushroom’s cultivation dates back to the Longquan County in 1209, though evidence for its earlier cultivation is strong. Throughout the centuries, cultivation of this prized fungi has spread, with an intriguing moment in Japan when samurai warriors specifically controlled most of the production for the aristocracy. This period is when the mushroom gained its now familiar association with shii trees. The warriors would cut down shii trees to create the logs for the mushrooms and were kept carefully by them with other logs already growing the mushrooms. The ancient mushrooms were only able to be cultivated in traditional locations using their long-time methods until 1982 when new varieties showed promise for commercial growing in the USA. Now, these mushrooms are cultivated all over the world. Most of the growing remains in the eastern regions of Asia.
Are Shiitake Mushrooms Safe to Eat?
DISCLAIMER: Always check with a mycologist to confirm your finds and before ingesting. Shiitake are one of the most prized mushrooms in edible and medicinal fields – meaning, yes, they are safe to eat. They’re woodland mushrooms and they happen to be the second most common edible mushroom in the world. Something like 10,000 tons of the species is eaten each year. However, eating undercooked or raw shiitake can cause some uncomfortable side effects. An extremely itchy and uncomfortable rash appears in narrow strips along the skin, usually on the chest, legs, arms, neck, and back, and appears within 24 to 48 hours. It’s believed this rash comes from a polysaccharide in the mushroom (lentinan) that resides in the roots of the mushroom and needs to be cooked out. The compound is technically toxic, but the cooking neutralizes it. The rash typically goes away within a few days to weeks, but topical steroids are often applied to resolve the irritation. There are no known life-threatening reactions. To avoid this issue, be sure to never eat shiitake raw, cook them for at least 5 to 7 minutes, or until they’re tender and browned, and test the mushrooms with a meat thermometer to ensure they reach between 266- and 293-degrees Fahrenheit before serving.
What’s the Flavor Profile?
These delectable mushrooms have an earthy, rich flavor to them that almost have a “meaty” sense. They are savory and rich and easily replace meat in certain types of cuisine when intended for vegan consumption.
How Are Shiitake Mushrooms Used?
These mushrooms, known as umami in many culinary instances, have a meaty flavor a bit like portobello mushrooms. Because of this, they are used in savory dishes, including vegetable dishes, soups, and salads (cooked!), and often are used as meat replacements in Vegan and vegetarian dishes that might otherwise have meat in them. Specific dishes shiitake are often used for include miso soup, a vegetarian dish known as dashi, stir fry dishes, a Chinese dish known as Buddha’s delight. Shiitake may be dried and rehydrated, as well, which is one of the key means for preserving the mushroom for later use and for shipping. The mushrooms are also used medicinally and have been since ancient times.
Are There Any Health Benefits?
There are believed to be many health benefits of shiitake mushrooms. The mushrooms provide multiple nutrients that the human body needs, including water, carbohydrates, protein, B Vitamins, copper, and selenium. And when exposed to sunlight directly before use, shiitake mushrooms produce Vitamin D2. Some studies have suggested that consuming shiitake mushrooms may help improve the immune system and may help treat certain types of cancer. The mushrooms are also believed to help improve heart health.
How Much Do Shiitake Mushrooms Cost?
Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular and most populace edible fungi in the world. However, they aren’t inexpensive. They typically cost somewhere between $12 and $24 a pound (depending on inflation levels!) and are on the top 10 most expensive mushrooms in the world lists.
Where Can I Purchase Shiitake Mushrooms?
You may find shiitake mushrooms at many different supermarkets in the produce section, as well as in various forms (dried and raw) in Asian markets and farmer’s markets. You may also purchase the mushroom online. If you’re interested in finding shiitake mushrooms to grow at home, you may find growing kits at garden centers (usually specialized) or online.
How to Identify Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are fairly easy to identify among the grocery aisles. You should never eat wild mushrooms, however, unless you have an expert working with you to identify them. Shiitake mushrooms have umbrella-shaped caps in browns and tans, with the edges of the caps rolled slightly down and inward toward the stems. The stems are usually white or cream colored, but may be brown if the mushrooms are larger.
How to Grow Shiitake Mushrooms
Like other fungi, shiitake mushrooms start out as live mycelium cultures or spores that are used to spawn and eventually grow mushrooms. These spores function a bit like seeds for plants. There are both cold and warm weather strains of shiitakes, with wide range spores suitable for beginners. This wide range is also used most often for commercial cultivation as it is the most flexible and most likely to grow year-round. Shiitake mushrooms are fairly easy to grow from those spores. Many folks grow them in their backyards, while others use a grow box (you can easily find these online). Find a hardwood log (they love beech trees, maples, and oaks) and drill a hole into the log. Grab a shiitake mushroom kit and colonize the log with your mycelium plugs. Hammer the plugs in and let them do their work. The mushrooms should be ready to grow in about a year.
Shiitake Mushroom Trivia
Shiitake mushrooms have a fascinating history dating back to before those samurai warriors. Their current uses are pretty intriguing, too, though. They are the second-most consumed mushroom type in the entire world, and they are known to help remove toxins and heavy metals from the environment.
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