Description
Enjoy the distinctive, umami-rich flavour of our shiitake mushrooms, perfect for stir-fries, soups, sautés, or enhancing your favourite Asian-inspired dishes. Available in our Local Farm Shop in Bellaghy, Mid Ulster Area.
🍄 Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are one of the most beloved edible fungi worldwide, prized for both their culinary versatility and medicinal properties. Here’s a detailed look at what makes them so special:
🌿 Appearance & Texture
- Cap: Broad, umbrella-shaped, ranging from light to dark brown with a curled rim.
- Gills: White to beige, densely packed underneath the cap.
- Stem: Ivory to light brown, fibrous and often discarded in cooking due to its toughness.
- Flesh: Cream-colored, firm, and spongy.
- Aroma & Flavor: When cooked, they release a garlic-pine scent and offer a rich, earthy, smoky umami flavor.
🌍 Origin & Habitat
- Native to East Asia, especially China, Japan, and Korea.
- Grow naturally on decaying hardwoods like oak, beech, and maple.
- Cultivated globally on logs or sawdust blocks, making them widely available year-round.
🧬 Taxonomy
| Category | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Fungi |
| Division | Basidiomycota |
| Order | Agaricales |
| Family | Marasmiaceae |
| Genus | Lentinula |
| Species | Lentinula edodes |
🥗 Nutritional Highlights
- Low in calories (≈34 kcal per 100g fresh)
- Rich in:
- B vitamins (especially B2, B3, B5)
- Vitamin D (when exposed to sunlight)
- Minerals: Copper, selenium, manganese, iron, and zinc
- Dietary fiber and protein
- Contains lentinan, a beta-glucan with potential immune-boosting and anti-cancer properties.
🧪 Medicinal Properties
- Used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries.
- May support:
- Immune system function
- Cardiovascular health
- Anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity
- Often consumed as extracts, powders, or tinctures in addition to whole food form.
🍽️ Culinary Uses
- Common in Asian cuisine: miso soup, stir-fries, vegetarian broths.
- Can be dried and rehydrated, which intensifies their flavor.
- Pairs well with garlic, soy sauce, leafy greens, and red wine.
