Hen-of-The-Woods Mushrooms

Dancing Mushroom

Kumotake Mushroom

Maitake Mushrooms

Ram's Head Mushroom

Sheep's Head Mushroom

Hen-of-The-Woods Mushrooms are popular in Japan, but are native in other areas of the world as well.

They are a fungus that grows on trees and tree stumps, preferring deciduous trees. They don't have caps like other mushrooms: instead, they look like petals growing off a stalk in clusters. Some people think they look more like a chicken who has her tail feathers all ruffled, hence one of the many names for this mushroom. The mushroom can easily grow two feet across (60cm) and a foot tall (30cm), and weigh 25 pounds (11 kg.) It has pores instead of gills. The colour is a streaky, mottled brown.

These are both cultivated and gathered from the wild.

Hen-of-The-Woods Mushrooms have a savoury taste and an aroma that is prized in Japan. When young, they will be tender, but when mature they will be woody and tough.

You can buy them fresh or dried.

Nutrition for Hen-of-The-Woods Mushrooms

You can pretty much disregard all of the usual natural health hype around this mushroom.

Storage Hints for Hen-of-The-Woods Mushrooms

Store in fridge for up to 7 to 10 days after harvesting.

Language Notes about Hen-of-The-Woods Mushrooms

The Japanese name, "maitake", means "dancing mushroom".

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Also called:

Grifola frondosa, Polyporus frondosus (Scientific Name); Klapperschwamm (German); Barbisin, Griffone, Levrot, Orion, Taloch, Ulu (Italian); Maitake (Japanese)