Lion’s mane - 猴头菇 (Hou Tou Gu)
Lion’s Mane
猴头菇
Hou Tou Gu·Crinière de Lion
Hericium Erinaceus
- Traced and verified origin
- Dispatched within 24/48h, packed to order
- Kept away from light and moisture
According to the classical texts
健脾养胃 扶正
Pinyin
Jian Pi Yang Wei · Fu Zheng
Overview
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a spectacular mushroom formed of a cascade of white spines that calls to mind a lion’s mane or a beard of ice.
Nicknamed the “monkey mushroom” (Hou Tou Gu, “monkey head”) in China, it grows on the trunks of broadleaf trees and ranks among the four noble dishes of the imperial kitchen.
Dried, it takes on an ivory to golden tint; rehydrated, its flesh is soft and slightly stringy, of a mild savour recalling seafood.
Traditional uses
A mushroom of the table and of tradition, traditionally valued within the register of the Centre and as a companion to constitutions of a weakened Earth.
Chinese culture holds it a food of the longevity register, one to work into the base broths.
Preparation and traditional-use quantity
- Rehydration: soak for 30 minutes in lukewarm water, then simmer for 30 to 45 minutes in a broth
- In cooking: finely sliced and stir-fried, or simmered with poultry and jujubes
- Maintenance decoction: 2 to 3 pieces per litre
Precautions
Introduce it gradually if you know yourself sensitive to mushrooms.
