The shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many East Asian countries. It is considered a medicinal mushroom in some forms of traditional medicine.
Shiitake Mushrooms (Lentinus edodes), also known as “Chinese Black Mushrooms” or “Forest Mushrooms” are among the most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world. Native to Asia, they are a versatile part of many traditional Chinese and Japanese dishes, where they are used both fresh and in dried forms. Shiitakes are known by their Japanese name, which is appropriate since Japan is the world leader in production of shiitakes. The name comes from a Japanese word meaning "oak fungus," as they are discovered most frequently growing at the base of Japanese oak conifers called "shii trees."