Shiitake

n. golden or dark edible mushroom cultivated in China and Japan

The shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is an edible mushroom native to East Asia. It is generally known in the English-speaking world by its Japanese name, shiitake (kanji: ; literally "shii mushroom", from the Japanese name of the tree that provides the dead logs on which it is typically cultivated).In Chinese, it is called xiānggū (, literally "fragrant mushroom"). Two Chinese variant names for high grades of shiitake are dōnggū (, "winter mushroom") and huāgū (花菇, "flower mushroom", which has a flower-like cracking pattern on the mushroom's upper surface); both are produced at colder temperatures. Other names by which the mushroom is known in English include Chinese black mushroom and black forest mushroom. In Korean it is called pyogo (hangul: ; hanja: ), in Thai they are called hed hom (เห็ดหอม, "fragrant mushroom"), and in Vietnamese they are called nấm hương ("fragrant mushroom").
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Noun
1. edible east Asian mushroom having a golden or dark brown to blackish cap and an inedible stipe
(synonym) shiitake mushroom, Chinese black mushroom, golden oak mushroom, Oriental black mushroom, Lentinus edodes
(hypernym) fungus
(member-holonym) Lentinus, genus Lentinus

n. shiitake, golden or dark edible mushroom cultivated in China and Japan

Also called Chinese, black or oriental mushroom (in its dried form). Shitake is a strongly flavored mushroom used in both its fresh and dried form.

Drying mushrooms concentrates their flavors and produces a deep, meaty taste. Dried mushrooms are ideal in soups, stuffings, stir-fries and braised dishes. To reconstitute, soak in warm water 15-20 minutes; remove fibrous stems.