The Lion's Mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus, is a rare edible and medicinal mushroom that has been cultivated for use in Vietnam, China and Japan. It is primarily used as a replacement to lamb or meat, but now scientists are looking into it for a treatment to neuro-logical diseases. The lions mane mushroom resembles a “pom pom” and the tentacles which hang down resembling “teeth” are used to manufacture and release spores, the "seeds" of a mushroom that allow the fungal organism to reproduce.
Lions mane mushroom alternative names include:
- monkey head mushroom
- bearded tooth mushroom
- satyr's beard
- bearded hedgehog mushroom
- pom pom mushroom
- bearded tooth fungus
What does lions mane taste like?
Lions mane mushroom primarily taste like a cashew or peanut based powder. It is great to throw into smoothies, shakes, or it can be cooked and seasoned with ginger, pepper, and sea salt. If you do choose to cook the lions mane mushroom make sure to cook it slowly as it does release a lot of water as it is cooked.
Where does lions mane mushroom grow?
They grow in North America, China, Japan, and Europe, since Hericium are considered saprotrophs ( they feed on dead material). Hericium erinaceus is also a parasite, meaning it attacks and kills living trees.
They're usually found in late summer on dead or dying hardwood trees, especially oak, beech, or maple.
what does lions mane look like?
The lions mane mushroom looks similar to the lions mane jellyfish. Except it is all white and attaches itself to trees. If you cut a lions mane mushroom in half it resembles pathways of the brain.