Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
In Asia, shiitake mushrooms have been popular and ubiquitous for centuries, while in Europe they have only recently conquered the market. One of the biggest advantages of shiitake mushrooms is that they are not seasonal, so they are available fresh at any time of year. Our shiitakes are dried and have a firm, juicy flesh with a slightly earthy flavor.
Shiitake goes best with the following dishes:
- Eggs
- Asian dishes
- Meat
How healthy are shiitake mushrooms?
In addition to healthy ingredients, shiitake mushrooms also have very good nutritional values and are therefore popular with athletes. They score high in protein with few calories and zero grams of fat. Shiitake mushrooms contain many vitamins, such as vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin D. By the way, the vitamin C and vitamin D content is healthy for the nervous system and for the bones. Shiitake mushrooms also have healing properties. For example, they help to lower high blood pressure or cholesterol levels and thus help prevent circulatory disorders.
Why are dried mushrooms so expensive, relatively speaking, and what are the advantages of dried mushrooms?
Fresh mushrooms contain a lot of water and lose up to 90% of their weight when dried. This explains the higher price of dried mushrooms compared to fresh mushrooms. When soaked in water though, dried mushrooms expand to almost their normal size and both their taste and consistency remain nearly unchanged. One of the biggest advantages of dried mushrooms is their shelf life. If stored correctly, sufficiently dried mushrooms can be kept for several years without any noticeable loss of quality. However, it is important that the mushrooms are stored in an airtight container.