Funghi

Lion's Mane

Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a tooth fungus that forms a white cascading pom-pom of soft spines rather than a classic cap and stem. Flavour is mild and slightly seafood-like; texture pulls into shreds that brown like crab or lobster when seared. Cultivated on blocks for fresh markets and dried for teas and powders. Cook soon after harvest—the white spines yellow with age.

Also known as: Hou tou gu, Yamabushitake, Lion's Mane / Pom Pom

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Quantity

Unit

Note

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Powder

Shred

Spine Mass

Whole

Breeds, cuts & preparations

Variety

Bearded ToothCoral ToothCultivated Lion's ManeHericium americanumHericium coralloidesHericium erinaceusPom Pom MushroomYamabushitake

Source

Indoor FarmedOutdoor FarmedWild

Provenance

BiodynamicForagedLocally GrownLog GrownOrganicPesticide FreeSeasonalSingle OriginSubstrate GrownWild Harvested

Preparation

BoiledCannedChilledChoppedDicedDriedFermentedFreeze DriedFreshFrozenGrilledHalvedMincedPickledPowderPreservedRoastedSaltedSautéedSlicedSmokedSteamedStuffedTornWhole

CommonCharacteristic

CleanDelicateFibrousMildSeafood-likeSweetTenderUmami

History

200 BCECN

Hericium species were used in Chinese food and traditional wellness preparations.

1900

Naturalists documented lion's mane across northern forests as a distinctive edible.

1990CN

Commercial cultivation expanded fresh and dried lion's mane supply in East Asia.

2015

Western restaurants and growers popularised lion's mane as a seafood-texture vegetarian ingredient.