Maitake (Grifola frondosa) are considered the king of mushrooms, because they are so delicious, plus scientifically proven to be a potent medicinal food.

Maitake literally means ‘dancing mushroom’ in Japanese, because people who found them deep in the mountains danced for joy.

Maitake and health
In the past twenty years, medical researchers have been studying the anti-tumor activity of many types of mushrooms. Most medicinal mushrooms, such as maitake, reishi and shiitake, are known to enhance immune function by stimulating cell-mediated immunity. Simply put, they can turn on the immune system’s T-cells, which travel the bloodstream seeking and destroying cancer cells. As such, continuing research is going on in the USA and Japan into how mushrooms like maitake could be used to treat and prevent cancer and HIV, plus diabetes and even obesity. No wonder maitake are called dancing mushrooms!

All maitake are not the same. Although wild maitake still exist deep in some forests, almost all maitake used for food and medicine are cultivated. Like other medicinal and culinary plants, the quality of maitake depends on growing conditions and genetic constitution. Through the years, scientists have learned that maitake produce the most potent medicinal effects and have the best flavour when the highest quality of spores are used for cultivation under ideal growing conditions.

Clearspring Maitake production
Clearspring Maitake are grown by Yukiguni in Nigata Prefecture. This area of Japan is the most respected district for high quality maitake and maitake products. Yukiguni maitake are not only served fresh in Japan’s best restaurants, but their high potency extract is the first choice of medical researchers around the world.

Cooking with Dried Maitake
Whole dried maitake offer medicinal benefits as a side dish to the succulent, distinctive flavour that makes them a prized gourmet mushroom. Slow drying concentrates their rich taste and medicinal qualities for ready for use throughout the year. Soak dried maitake in lukewarm water and use them with their soaking water to make superb soups or sauces. Alternatively, soak them and add to stir-fries, fried rice or noodles, or casseroles.

Available in 30g packs