Shiitake – a thousand-year-old mushroom cultivation from Japan

Shiitake, or oak mushroom, is the second most cultivated mushroom in the world and a central ingredient in Japanese and East Asian cuisine.

Historical cultivation

Shiitake has been cultivated on logs in China and Japan for over a thousand years, making it one of the oldest forms of mushroom cultivation in the world. The name "shiitake" comes from the Japanese word for the tree species (shii) on which the mushroom was traditionally grown.

What shiitake contains

Shiitake contains iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and manganese, as well as B vitamins.

Good to know

Avoid shiitake during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In rare cases, the mushroom can cause a skin reaction called "shiitake dermatitis."

In the kitchen

The mushroom has a spicy, smoky aroma and is often used in broths, woks, and soups. Our organic shiitake powder is an example of how it is commonly sold.