General Information
Shiitake mushrooms, pronounced shee-TAH-kay, range in colors from amber to paper bag-brown. Each mushroom has a wide, umbrella shape with a characteristic curled rim. Their caps, growing up to eight inches in diameter, have a cream-colored interior described as supple-firm. When cooked, shiitakes release a garlic-pine aroma and have a rich, earthy, umami flavor.
History
Shiitake mushrooms are native to East Asia, specifically China and Japan. They have been growing wild since prehistoric times. Shiitake mushrooms have been cultivated since 1100 AD, during the Song Dynasty. The first Shiitake production in the United States did not occur until a ban on importing live Shiitake cultures was lifted in 1972 (Shiitakes do not grow wild in the United States). Shiitake mushrooms grow so well, kits are sold to home growers.
