Beneficial Mushrooms

Mushrooms are uniquely and deliciously beneficial. They are the fruiting body of fungi mycelium packed with health boosting nutrients. With about 46,000 species worldwide, 2,000 of them are edible. New awareness of nourishment has caused mushroom interest beyond commercial button mushrooms which almost completely dominated edible mushroom availability until recently. Shiitake, crimini (brown Italian), maitake, lion’s mane, oyster, morel, and portobello mushrooms have each grown in popularity, while study of mushroom phytonutrients has become a keen focus of medical research. Traditional, natural healthcare systems have always used mushrooms.

Dried mushrooms keep well in the dark almost indefinitely. Dried, they are available for food prep year-round. The taste of dried mushrooms is enhanced compared to fresh.

Using dried mushrooms is easy. Rehydrate by soaking them in water for 10 to 20 minutes and then use them just as you would fresh mushrooms. Using dry and fresh together is common. Potent antioxidants, phytonutrients, B, D, E, B-12 vitamins, protein, minerals, and an overall health boost result.

Savory Umami Taste

Recently, the taste ‘umami’ was officially declared the fifth taste. It was formerly referred to as ‘savory.’ The new taste distinction was made after identification of tongue taste receptors for savory peptides. Umami became one of the five tastes along with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. While recently acknowledged in the West, umami has been appreciated as a distinct taste in the East for a long time. Food with umami taste, such as mushrooms, shoyu soy sauce, miso, and seaweed go well with most other foods. Traditional fermented shoyu soy sauce imparts umami taste while its own taste disappears as it heightens the taste of the foods it is used with. Fresh or dried mushrooms seasoned with fermented, traditional shoyu soy sauce have a deep umami taste.

Immunity Boost

Shiitake and maitake mushrooms are two popular dried mushrooms. Their antioxidants, especially polysaccharide (complex carbohydrate) beta-glucans, along with vitamin D serve to strengthen immunity. When mushrooms are exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light, even after drying, they convert ergosterol, abundant in mushrooms, into vitamin D2. This makes mushrooms are an important vegetable source of vitamin D. They also encourage healthier gut biome.

Shiitake mushrooms Lentinula edodes are the second most common edible mushroom after white button. They are considered a health tonic in Eastern cultures. Shiitake have been cultivated for over 1,000 years. Shiitake are abundant in Lentinan and Lentinula edodes mycelium (LEM) polysaccharides that help build and maintain a strong immune system and manage cholesterol. Shiitake mushrooms have broad antiviral properties and are known to counteract the effects of excessive animal food and salt.

Forest Grown

EDEN Shiitake Mushrooms are forest grown on oak logs where light and moisture are optimal. EDEN Whole Dried Shiitake Mushrooms are the highest grade ‘donko’ with tightly curled caps, superior taste and efficacy. They are hand harvested and naturally slow dried to enhance their taste.

EDEN Sliced Shiitake Mushrooms are a mid-grade used for culinary purposes. Their caps are wider and less curled. They are grown and handled just as the donko grade are, but stems are removed before slicing and they are slow, natural dried. Sliced shiitake have a milder taste. Their soak and cook time are reduced. Sliced dried shiitake can be added as they are to soup and stew.

King of Mushrooms

People who have studied mushroom benefits designated maitake Grifola frondosa the ‘King of Mushrooms’ because of their robust bracing, immune strengthening, and nourishing characteristics. Immunity enhancement is credited to maitake polysaccharides, especially beta-glucan. There is strong evidence that maitake contributes to heart health. Maitake mushrooms are valued in Japan for both delicious taste and beneficial properties.

The Japanese word Maitake means ‘dancing butterflies.’ Their rippled clusters resemble butterflies dancing. Maitake’s Latin name references the majestic griffin of Greek mythology, a lion with eagle wings and head. Americans call Maitake ‘hen of the woods’ or ‘cloud mushroom’ as their wavy clusters resemble ruffled feathers or cloud layers. They are called the ‘dancing mushroom’ too, from observed dancing in the forest when they were found. Wild maitake are still found in forests throughout the northeastern United States, Canada, China, and Japan where they grow at the base of oak trees, and an occasional maple or elm.

EDEN Maitake Mushrooms are organically grown in the U.S. on a hardwood substrate without the use of toxic agricultural chemicals. EDEN Maitake mature in about 60 days. They are trimmed, slow air-dried, and sorted. Maitake have exceptional taste and a wonderful texture.

Cooking Dried Mushrooms – Dried EDEN Shiitake and Maitake Mushrooms are used the same as other dried mushroom. First, they are soaked for 10 to 20 minutes to rehydrate and soften them. They are then cut and used just like they would be if they were fresh.

The soak water from rehydrated dried mushrooms is called ‘mushroom liquor.’ It is reserved and used in cooking. It can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen for making soup stock, and be cooked down to concentrate its taste.

EDEN Shiitake and Maitake Mushrooms in the pantry prepare you for their creative use. Add them to soup, stew, and sauces. Parboil and chop them for delicious grain patties, salads, stir-fries, omelets, or on pizza. Visit edenfoods.com/recipes for dozens of free recipes. EDEN Dried Mushrooms are kosher.

Eden Foods Company Goals

1.) Provide the most pure, high quality, life-supporting food and accurate information about them, their uses and benefits.

2.) Creation and maintenance of a healthy, respectful, challenging, and rewarding environment for people involved with the Company.

3.) Development of the ability to produce and disseminate the foodstuffs and information we create and handle.

4.) Cultivate sound relationships with like minded people and organizations involved in like pursuits.

5.) Cultivate adaptability to changes in economic, social, and environmental conditions to allow Eden Foods the opportunity to survive long term.

6.) Have a strong, positive impact on farming and food processing practices used in the world.

7.) To contribute to peaceful development of life on Earth.