The Most Popular Mushroom in Asian Cuisine

Shiitakes are the second most-consumed mushrooms in the world and the most popular edible mushroom used in Asia. They are pungent, delicious and exotic, with intense nutritional benefits.

Shitake (she-TAH-kee) mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) have been a staple of the oriental diet for centuries. Shiitakes are the second most-consumed mushrooms in the world and the most popular edible mushroom used in Asian cuisine, including China and Japan. Their pungent, woodsy flavor, nutritional value and health benefits attract this attention.

Shiitakes ("shii" is Japanese for oak and "take" means mushroom) are delicious, with a meaty texture and much more flavor than white button mushrooms. Shiitakes provide high levels of protein (18% by weight), potassium, niacin and B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. The mushroom has all essential amino acids. The very best shiitakes grown on natural hardwood logs such as oak, hickory, and sweet gum. Fresh shiitakes will keep in the refrigerator 2-3 weeks. They can be used the same way as white button mushrooms: saut?ed, fried, barbecued, baked, boiled, and raw. Their protein content, meaty texture and intense flavor make them particularly valuable to vegetarians.

Shiitakes have natural antiviral and immunity-boosting properties and are used nutritionally to fight viruses, lower cholesterol and regulate blood pressure. Researchers S. Suzuki and Oshima found that a raw shiitake eaten daily for one week lowered serum cholesterol by 12%. Lentinan, a shiitake extract, is one of the three mushroom based anti-cancer drugs approved by the FDA in Japan since 1985. It exhibits strong immune responses and has been extensively studied for use with cancers and viral infections. This mushroom contains a variety of constituents that have demonstrated a range of actions, including immune modulation, anti-tumor, liver protecting, cholesterol lowering, anti-viral and blood pressure lowering. Its extract is also a potent anti-fungal agent, effective against candida albicans.