Dried Shii Take Mushrooms

The shii take, Lentinula edodes, begins life as an invisible network of pale, spidery threads, which burrow through the dead tissue of various hardwoods—oak, beech, chestnut, or the shii tree (from which the mushroom derives its name). The shii take has been highly valued in China and Japan for more than 2000 years, not only as a tasty edible mushroom but also due to the numerous health-promoting effects.

The shii take mushroom is a darker and stronger flavored cousin of the common

button mushroom. The typical aroma is even more pronounced if you cook using dried shiitake mushrooms.