Shiitake mushrooms come from the East. In the wild, they grow in Japan and China. Now the mushroom is actively grown in Asia and the products are exported. Shiitake have a specific, but pleasant taste and are healthy. Based on them, you can prepare medicines.
General characteristics
The cap of this mushroom can have a different diameter - from 3 to 15 cm. At first it is convex, and when the shiitake ripens, it becomes flat. Initially, shiitake are painted in a dark brown color, but gradually change color to a lighter shade. The leg of the mushroom is light brown, fibrous, the flesh is creamy, fleshy, with a pronounced taste and aroma.
The name shiitake in Latin is edible tape.
Mushrooms of this species contain many valuable elements:
- alimentary fiber;
- amino acids;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- iron;
- zinc;
- magnesium;
- proteins;
- unsaturated fats.
Due to its taste and rich composition, at present, shiitake is also grown artificially - cultivated on logs or sawdust. This is done in different countries of the world, including Russia.
Places of growth
Under natural conditions, shiitake grows in the territories of southeastern Asia and in Primorye, as well as in the Far East, in mixed oak and beech forests. There they can be found on stumps or tree trunks. The growth period is from spring to autumn, after heavy rains.
Useful and harmful properties of shiitake
Due to its rich composition, shiitake have a number of useful properties. These include the following:
- strengthening immunity and suppressing the activity of viruses;
- lowering blood cholesterol: Japanese scientists have proven that daily shiitake intake for a week can reduce blood cholesterol by 12%;
- increasing the body's resistance to tumor formations and infections;
- slowing the growth and development of cancer cells;
- prevention of blood clots;
- reduction in the risk of heart attack and stroke;
- stimulation of metabolic processes in the body, which allows to reduce weight;
- normalization of the cardiovascular system;
- body protection against free radicals;
- skin condition improvement: shiitake mushrooms make wrinkles less deep, normalize the production of sebum, increase skin elasticity;
- beneficial effect on the organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
- stimulation of skin restoration;
- improves the human condition in autoimmune processes, which include systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma;
- removal of toxins from the body;
- improvement of the psychoemotional state in depression and prolonged stress;
- normalization of the general condition after increased physical exertion;
- strengthening the nervous system.
Due to these properties, shiitake pulp is actively used for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the kidneys and liver, bladder, stomach and pancreas. The fungus also improves with high blood pressure, neurological diseases, atherosclerosis and epilepsy.
Despite the beneficial properties of shiitake, it should be eaten with caution: it contains a large amount of chitin, which is not digested in the stomach. In addition, an allergic reaction may occur.
There are a number of contraindications to the use of the mushroom:
- age up to 12 years;
- pregnancy;
- simultaneous use of drugs that reduce the ability of blood coagulation;
- bronchial asthma;
- tendency to develop allergic reactions.
Do not eat too many shiitake mushrooms at once, as this can cause diarrhea.
Methods of growing shiitake mushroom
Shiitake can be successfully grown at home. There are two main methods for this:
- An intensive method involves the use of a substrate to which the seed mycelium is mixed.
- An extensive way is to grow mushrooms on wood. In this case, conditions are created that are close to the natural lifestyle of shiitake: the mycelium is laid in the harvested trimming trunks.
Features of growing Shiitake in an intensive way
Intensive technology makes it possible year-round fruiting of mushrooms. It is necessary to organize the cultivation in specially equipped rooms.
When preparing a room for Shiitake cultivation in an intensive way, it is necessary to take into account the following requirements:
- good ventilation;
- the presence of lighting;
- high level of air humidity - 70-80%;
- the ability to maintain optimal temperature, for shiitake it is + 15-18 degrees during the day and +10 degrees at night;
- the presence of a drip irrigation system.
The room where shiitake will be grown must be clean and disinfected.
For intensive mushroom cultivation, it is necessary to prepare a substrate, the main part of which should be maple, beech or oak sawdust. Softwood sawdust is not suitable for this. Sawdust makes up 60-90% of the total mass of the substrate. The volume is supplemented by additives: straw, cereal bran, gypsum, husk.
The prepared substrate must be sterilized to suppress the development of competitive organisms capable of destroying the mycelium. As containers for placing the substrate in them, packages of 1-6 l of dense polyethylene are used.
After heat treatment, the mixture is cooled and seeded with mycelium. It should be bought at specialized stores selling seeds.
For 100 kg of substrate, 2-5 kg of mycelium is needed. It should grow warm for 1.5-2.5 months. Over this period, the spores are almost completely distributed and mature for further growth. After this, the mycelium is transferred for fruiting to cool rooms with a high level of humidity.
To get a good crop of mushrooms, it is recommended to water the plantings daily. It is especially necessary to carefully monitor this during the period when the mushrooms begin to sprout and gain weight.
The yield of the fungus is 20-30% of the total mass of the prepared substrate. Each mycelium can bear fruit for 5-7 years. It must be remembered that the mycelium should be periodically given rest.
Shiitate grows and ripens in waves, so after the first harvest, the block with the substrate should be soaked in cold water - this stimulates the growth of the second wave. The unit should be aged for a week - this will restore the original volume and level of humidity.
Extensive mushroom growing method
Shiitake can be grown in summer cottages, on stumps or logs. Any deciduous trees are suitable for this, but beech and oak are best.
Each square meter of wood involved in the application of mycelium and growing mushrooms, brings up to 250 kg of shiitake per year.
To grow mushrooms in a summer cottage in an extensive way, you must do the following:
- pick up long tree trunks with a diameter of 7-15 cm, a length of 1 m;
- make sure that there is enough moisture in the wood (about 40%), and if the trunks are dry, you need to water them a few days before applying the mycelium;
- to drill holes on the trunks in a checkerboard pattern, observing a distance of 10 cm from each other along the length of the barrel, between rows of holes you need to retreat 7 cm;
- the mycelium is brought into the prepared holes and the trunks are laid horizontally, forming high woodpiles;
- the holes are closed with corks or covered with garden varnish, and they are covered with a film on top.
Mycelium germination occurs from 6 months to a year and a half.
When a white coating forms on the surface of the logs, and the log makes a dull sound when tapped, the logs with mycelium are carried out into the open air, to the area where there is moist ground. It must be protected from drafts and direct ultraviolet rays.
When shiitake is grown by the extensive method, the highest fruiting level is observed in the second year after the introduction of the mycelium.
Watch the video that shows how to grow shiitake on chocks:
Ways to use mushrooms in cooking and medicine
Shiitake mushrooms are actively used for cooking various dishes, as well as agents for treating diseases of internal organs and skin integuments.
Shiitake Cooking
Shiitake is fried and eaten as an independent dish, or they add fried mushrooms to rice, various types of noodles, fish and chicken. Mushrooms are added to seafood soups, vegetable stews, broths.
In Russia, dried shiitake mushrooms are most often used for food. Before consuming them, it is necessary to soak the mushrooms in water for 8-10 hours.
In the preparation of these mushrooms, a minimal gentle heat treatment is carried out, since under the influence of high temperatures their taste and healing qualities are reduced. Boil mushrooms for no more than 3-4 minutes, stew longer - about half an hour.
The use of shiitake for medicinal purposes
Shiitake mushrooms are used to prepare various medicines. Based on them, such means are made as:
- Dry mushroom powder that boosts immunity and reduces nervous tension. For cooking, grind dry mushrooms. It is recommended to take a teaspoon of the obtained powder three times a day, 40 minutes before eating.
- Mushroom tincture, which effectively fights gastritis, gastric ulcer, hypertension, as well as malignant tumors. To prepare it, you should take 20 g of the prepared powder and pour 500 ml of quality vodka. The product should be infused for 2 weeks in a cool dark place. You need to use tincture without filtering. It is recommended to take 2 teaspoons of the finished product 30 minutes before meals.
- Oil extract from the mushroom. This tool helps with diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, joint pain. To cook the hood, you need to take 20 g of dried shiitake and pour 500 ml of linseed or olive oil, heated to 37 degrees in a water bath. The container with oil and mushrooms should be tightly closed and allowed to infuse for 5 days in a warm place, then put in the refrigerator for 5 days. Take a teaspoon 2 times a day.
In pharmacies, various medicines are sold with the addition of shiitake extracts. You need to take them carefully, only after consulting a doctor and at the recommended dosage.
Shiitake mushrooms in vivo grow in Asia and Primorye. They have pronounced taste and are characterized by medicinal properties. Shiitake can be grown independently in a home farm, both in open areas and in greenhouses or sheds.