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: Lions Mane, Hericium, Hou tou gu, Yamabushitake, Lion's Mane / Pom Pom

Track this ingredient

Quantity

Unit

Kg Liters Whole

Note

Cuts & parts

Powder

Shred

Spine Mass

Whole

Breeds & varieties

A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.

View all

Yamabushitake

Coral Tooth

Hericium coralloides

Bearded Tooth

Pom Pom Mushroom

Cultivated Lion's Mane

Hericium americanum

Hericium erinaceus

Characteristics

Preparations

BoiledCannedChilledChoppedDicedDriedFermentedFreeze DriedFreshFrozenGrilledHalvedMincedPickledPowderPreservedRoastedSaltedSautéedSlicedSmokedSteamedStuffedTornWhole

Provenance

BiodynamicForagedLocally GrownLog GrownOrganicPesticide FreeSeasonalSingle OriginSubstrate GrownWild Harvested

Sources

Indoor FarmedOutdoor FarmedWild

Traits

CleanDelicateFibrousMildSeafood-likeSweetTenderUmami

Nutrition

Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.

Nutrition Facts

Per 100 g edible portion

Calories 31.7

Amount per 100 g

Total Fat 0.41 g
Saturated Fat 0.1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.21 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 10.1 mg
Salt 0.05 g
Total Carbohydrate 3.83 g
Dietary Fibre 1.99 g
Total Sugars 1.6 g
Complex / starch 0.53 g
Protein 2.8 g
Water 84.4 g

Detailed nutrients

Energy 31.7 kcal
Water 84.4 g
Carbohydrates 3.83 g
- Sugars 1.6 g
  - Monosaccharides 1.12 g
  - Disaccharides 0.48 g
- Starch 0.53 g
  - Amylose 0.13 g
  - Amylopectin 0.4 g
  - Digestible Starch 0.45 g
  - Resistant Starch 0.05 g
- Fibre 1.99 g
  - Soluble Fibre 0.7 g
  - Insoluble Fibre 1.29 g
Protein 2.8 g
- Fungal Protein 2.66 g
Fat 0.41 g
- Saturated Fat 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.21 g
  - Omega-3 0.02 g
  - Omega-6 0.11 g
Vitamins 64.5 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.07 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.34 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 3.38 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 1.25 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.08 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 9.4 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 23.3 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 3.5 µg
- Vitamin E 0.11 mg
- Vitamin K 1.1 µg
Minerals 304 mg
- Major Minerals 298 mg
  - Calcium 44 mg
  - Sodium 10.1 mg
  - Potassium 244 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.3 mg
  - Iron 0.9 mg
  - Zinc 0.4 mg
  - Iodine 5 µg
Salt 0.05 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.05 g

Vitamins

vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.07 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.34 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 3.38 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 1.25 · vitamin-b6: 0.08 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 9.4 · vitamin-b9-folate: 23.3 · vitamin-d: 3.5 · vitamin-e: 0.11 · vitamin-k: 1.1 ·

Minerals

Sodium: 10.12 · Potassium: 244 · Calcium: 44 · Iron: 0.9 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·

Mushrooms are high-water fungal tissue with modest protein and distinctive beta-glucans.

In the kitchen

Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Lion's Mane.

Pairs well with

Classic and complementary matches

ButterCrab-like texture dishes
Garlic
Lemon
Pepper
Soy Sauce
Thyme

Usually avoid with

Often clash in flavour or tradition

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.