There is more to the magic of mushrooms than the psychedelic ‘shrooms’ used to make mushroom tea. The western world is now taking more notice of the medicinal uses for mushrooms that the East has known for centuries. Of course, the delicious flavour of various mushrooms remains a favourite for many of us. Different mushrooms have different flavours and different uses.
The shitake mushroom has long been a delicacy in Asian cooking. It can be obtained, fresh, frozen or dried. Dried mushrooms can be reconstituted with water or ground into a dry seasoning. Of course the western world has also long used a variety of mushrooms too. Morel mushrooms are particularly delicious and are widely used in French cuisine. You can now purchase kits to grow your own morel mushrooms at home.
Those who are a little more adventurous may prefer to gather their own wild mushrooms. If nothing else it is a great excuse for a wander through the woods. It does pay to be able to identify the type of mushroom you are collecting. Although very few mushrooms are really poisonous most of us would not want to take the risk of finding out.
At the other end of the scale are those mushrooms which are being shown to have great medicinal value. The red reishi mushrooms have been used in the East for over 2000 years. It is treasured for its ability to boost the immune system and bring the body back into balance. Reishi is readily available now in capsule form and many people report very positive health results from taking this wonder mushroom. The maitake mushroom is also being shown to have very positive results in preventing and treating cancer and diabetes.
Whether you are a confirmed mushroom lover, or new to the delights of mushrooms, why not try out a new variety for your table or for your health? There is a wealth of information available online about the different types of mushroom you can grow or collect. You can find recipes and also read up on the various health benefits to be gained from the mighty mushroom.
