Shittake Mushrooms (Lentinus edodes)
SHORT HISTORY
The creme de la crème of shiitake crop is called donko, Shittake mushroom is the second most widely cultivated mushroom in the world, and is often used in Asian cuisine.
It has been estimated that the origin of shiitake mushrooms can be traced to the cretaceous period, over one hundred million years ago.
According to a Chinese legend, around 5,000 years ago, a deity, Shennong bestowed the world with natural treasures including medicinal mushrooms. Tapestries and Chinese manuscripts depict deities holding several species of medicinal mushroom, including the shiitake, which finds applications in Chinese culture as an aphrodisiac and a promoter of youthfulness and virility.
Xi-Wang Mu, the Taoist diety called “Godmother of the West” with a Ganoderma lucidum (ling zhe) mushroom in hand. Photo by Dr. Meierhofer. PHOTO & SOURCE
BOTANY & FORAGING
One of the most edible and widely used mushrooms. It is characterized to have a dark
HEALTH BENEFITS
References:
Crazy About Mushrooms. (2018). Asian Mushrooms – More Mushroom History. Retrieved from http://blog.crazyaboutmushrooms.com/asian-mushrooms-mushroom-history/
