Herb. No. 034 · Omphalotaceae
East Asian oak-log fungus, now the world’s most grown gourmet mushroom.
Native · East Asia
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
OpenGentlefungus
Shiitake
Lentinula edodes
The farmable forest mushroom — food first, immune-modulating lentinan as a bonus.
Shiitake is both supper and medicine. Lentinan (a beta-glucan) has been used as an injected adjunct in Japan; that is not a home soup. As food, regularly eaten shiitake is a reasonable immune-supporting habit. A minority of people get a flagellate rash from undercooked specimens.
Flavor
Deep forest umami, garlic-wood when dried.
Parts used
Fruiting body
In favor
- Delicious
- Log or block culture is a classic homestead skill
- Meat of the evidence is as food
Against
- Shiitake dermatitis from raw/undercooked
- Log culture takes a year