Overview

Shiitake mushrooms, also known as Chinese, oak, black forest, and golden oak mushrooms, is more readily available worldwide than other Asian mushrooms. They have a distinctive umbrella-shaped cap with a thin, woody stem. Like portabellas, shiitakes range in color from tan to dark brown and have open veils, or visible gills. They have a soft, slightly spongy texture, and a strong, meaty, woody flavor. They are an excellent vegetarian meat substitute, and have long been used in this capacity in Asian cuisine. Shiitakes are most often stir fried, but are also used in pasta dishes. While their stems are usually removed because of their tough texture, they can be boiled to make strong, rich stocks.Shiitake is an edible mushroom that grows on wood from a variety of tree species. Due to its ease of cultivation and its pungent flavor, Shiitake is being considered as an alternative crop in many areas of the United States. Shiitake have been used in the Orient for about 2000 years, but have only been commercially cultivated since 1940. About 160,000 metric tons are produced annually in Japan, half of which is dried and exported. It represents a two billion dollar industry which employs about 200,000 people.In the United States, shiitake is used in oriental restaurants and is often sold in oriental, gourmet and health food stores. Over $15 million of Japan's shiitake mushroom production during 1984 was exported to the U.S. The demand for Shiitake is increasing as consumers are being introduced to the mushroom which is more chewy, aromatic and flavorful than the common button mushroom. Over 2.1 million pounds of shiitake was produced in this country during 1986 and nearly 3 million pounds in 1987.

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