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Shimeji

life science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Shimeji are a group of tasty mushrooms.

Asian mushrooms
Asian mushrooms

They grow in East Asia and northern Europe. Many kinds are sold in markets today. These mushrooms are special because they have umami flavors. Umami is a savory taste. Shimeji have compounds like guanylic acid and glutamic acid. They also have aspartic acid to help with this flavor. This makes them very popular in cooking.

Different shimeji have different ways of getting food.

Lyophyllum shimeji
Lyophyllum shimeji

Most are saprotrophs. This means they get food from decaying matter. One kind is the buna-shimeji, also called the brown beech mushroom. Another kind is the bunapi-shimeji, or white beech mushroom. However, the hon-shimeji is a mycorrhizal fungus. This means it lives near tree roots. It is much harder for people to grow.

People have worked hard to grow these mushrooms.

Japanese Hokto Bunapie 2
Japanese Hokto Bunapie 2

Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd. first patented a way to grow buna-shimeji. They did this in 1972. Production in Japan began in 1973. Now, many different breeds are sold fresh in markets. The Hokuto Corporation also made a special breed. They used UV light to select the bunapi-shimeji. They named this breed 'hokuto shiro #1'.

These mushrooms are very good for your body.

Lyophyllum shimeji
Lyophyllum shimeji

They contain minerals like potassium and phosphorus. They also have magnesium, zinc, and copper. Shimeji can help lower cholesterol levels. They have many compounds like beta-(1-3)-glucan and marmorin. These may act as natural anticancer agents. Some parts may even help lower blood pressure. They can also help protect against lung failure.

You should always cook shimeji before you eat them.

Asian mushrooms
Asian mushrooms

Raw mushrooms can taste a bit bitter. Cooking makes that bitter taste go away. It also makes them easier for your body to digest. Cooked mushrooms are firm and slightly crunchy. They have a nice nutty flavor. You can use them in stir-fry or soups. They are great in dishes like nabe or takikomi gohan.

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File:Asian mushrooms.jpg
Asian mushrooms.jpg
File:Lyophyllum shimeji.jpg
Lyophyllum shimeji.jpg
File:Japanese_Hokto_Bunapie_2.JPG
Japanese_Hokto_Bunapie_2.JPG
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