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Hen of the Woods, or Maitake, is a beautiful, clustering polypore mushroom that ranks as one of the best medicinal foods in the woods. Our strain was cloned from the South Carolina Botanical Garden in Clemson, SC fruiting on White Oak. Hens take longer to appear than other mushroom strains, the mycelium is very slow growing and can take 2-3 years to fruit, but once it is established will appear for many years after! Always fruits in the fall and winter months, it actually forms from buried wood and expands under a protective blanket of leaves before emerging. Saute in oil, never butter to reveal its true amazing flavor, and it has a crunchy texture that makes it stand out above everything it is served with, making this the main course! Studies have shown anticancer properties when consuming maitake, and you can also make tinctures with fresh or dried specimens for taking on a regular basis. One of the best!
| Edibility and Taste | Strong and Savory, Meat-like with Crunchy texture |
| Grows On | Buried oak logs or Stumps, Sterilized sawdust indoors (difficult) |
| Fruiting Temps | 50-65F |
| Availability | Year-Round |