Description
Shiitake mushrooms are celebrated for their meaty taste and texture with a satisfying depth that is hard to find in plant-based foods. They are also surprisingly high in protein in a form that is very easily metabolized. Forest-grown shiitake have high levels of bioavailable iron and B vitamins as well as a host of other essential minerals. It is for these reasons that shiitake have been cultivated for medicinal as well as nutritional and gastronomic purposes for centuries.
Our shiitake mushrooms are all forest-grown on sustainably harvested hardwood logs in southern Quebec (near Ways Mills). Because our mushrooms are grown in the forest, we can only provide fresh mushrooms from May to October, in the winter our logs are resting (but see our dried mushroom page!). While fresh shiitake will store well in the fridge for up to two weeks, we sell our mushrooms within 3 days of harvest, hence we do not ship fresh mushrooms unless you want large quantities (contact us if you interested in bulk fresh shiitake). For smaller amounts, you can contact us and pick them up at the farm site (you can pick your own if you like) or see us at local farmer’s markets (Ayers Cliff, North Hatley, Stanstead), at Verger Heath Orchard or at Amis de la Terre, Sherbrooke.
After storage in the fridge your mushrooms may look a bit dry, if that happens, simply soak them in water for about 30 minutes to plump them up before using them in cooking. To clean, simply wipe your fresh shiitakes down with a damp cloth – we don’t use any fertilizers, pesticides or other treatments, so the dirt on the mushrooms is forest litter only. Fresh shiitakes are particularly good when sauteed quickly with butter and garlic.
