Funghi
Wood Ear
Wood ear (Auricularia spp.) is a gelatinous ear-shaped fungus used fresh or, more often, dried and rehydrated in Chinese and broader East Asian cookery. Texture is crisp-jelly rather than meaty; flavour is mild and carries sauces and seasonings. Cloud ear and related black fungus types are treated as varieties of the same culinary group. Soak dried pieces until pliable, trim tough attachment points, and slice for soups, stir-fries, and cold appetisers.
Also known as: Cloud Ear, Black Fungus, Mu er / Hei mu er, Kikurage, Mogi beoseot, Jelly Ear
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A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles. Showing 10 of 12.
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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 0.19 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 9.43 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Total Carbohydrate 4.18 g
- Dietary Fibre 2.08 g
- Total Sugars 1.45 g
- Complex / starch 0.52 g
- Protein 3.12 g
- Water 86.5 g
- Energy 28.3 kcal
- Water 86.5 g
- Carbohydrates 4.18 g
- Sugars 1.45 g
- Monosaccharides 1.02 g
- Disaccharides 0.43 g
- Starch 0.52 g
- Amylose 0.13 g
- Amylopectin 0.39 g
- Digestible Starch 0.44 g
- Resistant Starch 0.05 g
- Fibre 2.08 g
- Soluble Fibre 0.73 g
- Insoluble Fibre 1.35 g
- Protein 3.12 g
- Fungal Protein 2.96 g
- Fat 0.42 g
- Saturated Fat 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.19 g
- Vitamins 56.5 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.08 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.38 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 3.74 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 1.39 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.09 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 7.2 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 17.9 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 2.7 µg
- Vitamin E 0.09 mg
- Vitamin K 0.9 µg
- Minerals 232 mg
- Major Minerals 225 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.7 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: 0.38 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 3.74 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 1.39 · vitamin-b6: 0.09 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 7.2 · vitamin-b9-folate: 17.9 · vitamin-d: 2.7 · vitamin-e: 0.09 · vitamin-k: 0.9 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 9.43 · Potassium: 168 · Calcium: 48 · Iron: 1.3 · 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 Wood Ear.
Usually avoid with
Often clash in flavour or tradition
History
Chinese cuisine and medicine recorded wood ear fungi as food and tonic ingredients.
Cultivation and drying methods spread wood ear as a storable pantry fungus.
Dried black fungus became a global Chinese grocery staple for soups and stir-fries.
Industrial bag cultivation expanded wood ear and cloud ear supply worldwide.