Funghi
Reishi
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum and related species) is a tough, glossy bracket fungus used primarily as a dried decoction, tea, or extract rather than a table mushroom. Flavour is intensely bitter and woody; culinary use is as a simmered aromatic for broths and tonic drinks. Red reishi is the classic form; antler-shaped cultivated forms also appear. Slice or crack dried fruiting bodies before long simmering; powdered extracts are a modern convenience form.
Also known as: Lingzhi, Reishi / Mannentake, Yeongji
Track this ingredient
Cuts & parts
Breeds & varieties
A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles. Showing 10 of 11.
Characteristics
Preparations
Provenance
Sources
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 0.42 g
- Saturated Fat 0.1 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.21 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 10.3 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Total Carbohydrate 3.74 g
- Dietary Fibre 2.15 g
- Total Sugars 1.5 g
- Complex / starch 0.54 g
- Protein 2.88 g
- Water 89.4 g
- Energy 32 kcal
- Water 89.4 g
- Carbohydrates 3.74 g
- Sugars 1.5 g
- Monosaccharides 1.06 g
- Disaccharides 0.46 g
- Starch 0.54 g
- Amylose 0.14 g
- Amylopectin 0.41 g
- Digestible Starch 0.46 g
- Resistant Starch 0.05 g
- Fibre 2.15 g
- Soluble Fibre 0.75 g
- Insoluble Fibre 1.4 g
- Protein 2.88 g
- Fungal Protein 2.74 g
- Fat 0.42 g
- Saturated Fat 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.21 g
- Vitamins 57.3 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.08 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.39 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 3.83 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 1.42 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.09 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 7.4 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 18.4 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 2.7 µg
- Vitamin E 0.09 mg
- Vitamin K 0.9 µg
- Minerals 260 mg
- Major Minerals 254 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.1 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.05 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.08 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.39 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 3.83 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 1.42 · vitamin-b6: 0.09 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 7.4 · vitamin-b9-folate: 18.4 · vitamin-d: 2.7 · vitamin-e: 0.09 · vitamin-k: 0.9 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 10.34 · Potassium: 212 · Calcium: 32 · Iron: 0.7 · 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 Reishi.
Usually avoid with
Often clash in flavour or tradition
History
Reishi entered Chinese classical texts as a rare wood-grown fungus for decoctions.
Artistic and medical traditions elevated lingzhi symbolism alongside practical dried use.
Modern cultivation of Ganoderma made reishi widely available beyond wild finds.
Global supplement and specialty tea markets expanded dried reishi and extracts worldwide.