Lion's mane mushroom (dried)
The dried fruiting body of the lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus), a round shaggy 'monkey's head' sold whole. Soaked and squeezed through several changes of water to shed its bitterness, it turns spongy and absorbent, drinking in the broth and giving stomach-comforting soups a soft, meat-like texture.
TCM properties
Nature · neutral Flavour · sweet Meridians · spleen、stomach
Traditional food therapy
In Cantonese food therapy lion's mane is used to strengthen the spleen, aid sluggish digestion, nurture the stomach and settle the spirit, the classic mushroom for stomach-nurturing soups.
Cautions: read first
- Not for anyone allergic to mushrooms and fungi.
- People with gout should take care (mushrooms carry purines).
Preparation
After soaking, squeeze and rinse it several times over to get the bitterness out, then trim off the hard base.
Origin
Traditionally gathered wild in the mountain forests of the Northeast; now cultivated all over. Dried lion's mane (猴頭菇) not observed at AU domestic retail (marketplace imports only); fresh AU-grown lion's mane is the local stand-in
Availability in Australia
Easy to find
