Summary
This mushroom rightfully earns its name as the "King" Oyster mushroom. It might be one of the most delicious mushrooms in the oyster mushroom species. It's ability to mimic the texture and flavor of meat is unparalleled by any other mushroom.
Health Benefits*
The King Oyster mushroom has many of the same health benefits as the other oyster species. This mushroom boasts high levels of antioxidants, may lower cholesterol, improve haemoglobin levels in the blood, boost energy levels, and also have antibacterial properties.
Culinary Uses
Unlike other oyster mushrooms, the stem is the prized part of the King Oyster mushroom. It is fat and meaty, making it a perfect meat substitute. Our favorite ways of preparing it are:
The golden oyster has a sweeter and nuttier taste than the blue oyster mushroom. The caps are very delicate and the stems have a bit of a crunch to them. The entire spongy like "stump" of the golden oyster is edible up to the sawdust portion of it. It is great sauted in butter and can be used just as a button mushroom or regular oyster is. Our favorite thing to do with them is put them in a stir fry or a big bowl of ramen. As with all mushrooms, they must be cooked.
Health Benefits*
Lion's Mane may be the most well known medicinal mushroom. Lion's mane has been used medicinally in Asia for centuries. They say that Lion's Mane gives you "nerves of steel and the memory of a lion", and the scientific evidence is starting to back that up. Lion's Mane has been shown to have the following heath benefits:
Culinary Uses /Taste
Lion's Mane is such a unique mushroom to cook with. It has a mild mushroom flavor and can mimic the texture of crab meat or chicken, depending on how its prepared. We recommend cooking it thoroughly to remove any bitterness. Here are a few ways we recommend preparing it with recipes:
Blue Oyster mushroom's flavor can be described as earthy, complex, and more "mushroomy" tasting than your standard button mushrooms. Their texture is also going to be firmer and less spongy than a regular button mushroom.
The oyster mushroom has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years, mainly as a tonic for the immune system. Oyster mushrooms contain ergothioneine which is an antioxidant exclusively produced by fungi. They also have anti-bacterial effects from the compound they produce called benzaldehyde. Finally, oyster mushrooms are very nutrient dense for the amount of calories they contain. There are around 42 calories in one cup of oyster mushrooms. They also contain significant levels of zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B-1 & B-2. Source
Oh how the possibilities are endless! There are countless different ways you can prepare oyster mushrooms. As a general rule of thumb, you can treat them like you would a typical button mushroom, they will just have a stronger flavor. Some of our favorite ways to prepare them are as follows:
Next to the Golden Oyster Mushroom, this is one of the most visually striking varieties we grow. Originating in the tropics, we can only grow this variety from about May-September since it likes warm humid weather. Like other oyster mushrooms, this has a meaty texture but the flavor profile is a little different. Some people claim they taste like lobster!
The oyster mushroom has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years, mainly as a tonic for the immune system. Oyster mushrooms contain ergothioneine which is an antioxidant exclusively produced by fungi. They also have anti-bacterial effects from the compound they produce called benzaldehyde. Finally, oyster mushrooms are very nutrient dense for the amount of calories they contain. There are around 42 calories in one cup of oyster mushrooms. They also contain significant levels of zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B-1 & B-2. Source
You can treat Pink Oysters the same as you would any other oyster except they need cooked slightly longer to fully develop their flavor and to tenderize them. Here are some recipes:
Summary
The Shiitake is a long time favorite mushroom in Eastern Asia. There are a variety of strains which almost makes it possible to produce year round here in Virginia. Shiitakes have a very meaty texture and a very rich taste, making them a great center piece of any dish.
Shiitakes have long been know for it myriad of health benefits. Shiitakes can help fight obesity, support immune function, potentially destroy cancer cells, support cardiovascular health, contain antimicrobial properties, boost energy and brain function, provide vitamin D, and promote skin health. They are also a rich source of vitamin D.
Shiitakes are very earthy tasting with a meat like texture. They are commonly found in oriental food. Our favorite way to prepare them is in a stir fry or sauteed in butter with eggs. The stems are generally too tough to be edible so they are best left for flavoring soup stocks or they can be dried, powdered and used as a breading!
Pioppinos are one of our customer's favorite mushroom. The entire cap and stem is edible. They are very "woodsy" and earthy tasting with a crunch, even after they are cooked. They are great in soup, pasta, in eggs, or just sauteed as a side dish.
*The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
