Chinese mushroom

Also called Shiitake mushroom, these are the most widely used mushrooms in oriental cooking and are grown in China and Japan on the wood of dead deciduous trees. Lentinus edodes takes its name from the shii tree (Pasania), but also grows on the oak and hornbeam. The spawn is planted into holes or wedges cut in the logs, and crops last for 3-6 years. Shiitake are fried by sun, or artificial heat. Dried ones should be soaked in warm water for 20 minutes.