Actual Product (500g)
Oita prefecture ranks first in the production of dried Shiitake mushroom in Japan.
Dried shiitake mushroom produced in Oita accounts for around 34% of total production volume in Japan and the production volume in Oita in 2007 is 1,309 tons.
Also, they won a team championship at the national dried shiitake mushroom fair 14 years in a row and receive high evaluations.
Hita is one of major producing area in Oita.
Types of Shiitake mushroom
The name of Shiitake mushroom is different depending on the shape and thickness of mushroom cap. And the best shiitake recipe is different, too.
Thin→Thick
「Koshin」→「Kouko」→「Donko」
Donko has thick mushroom cap because it raised in cold weather slowly.
It is chewy and good for boiling and frying.
※ Recommended dishes
Chinese stir-fried, deep-fried stuffed with meat, stew, Teppanyaki, Chawanmushi (savoury egg custard)
Kouko is a dried shiitake thicker and larger than Koshin.
It is popular as a souvenir from Oita because it is a representative famous product of Oita.
Kouko is voluminous, so good to barbecue. And it will be delicious for Western-style stew chop.
※ Recommended dishes
Teriyaki, barbecue, steak mushrooms, gratin, stew
Koushin is the thinnest mushroom in 3 types. it is very convenient because it reconstitutes soon. It is recommended to cook chopped or sliced shiitake mushroom.
※ Recommended dishes
Sushi rolls, Gomoku Sushi, cooked rice, vinegared dish, dressed food, dumplings
Making process of dried shiitake mushroom
1. Felling of Trees (November)
Around 12-15 year-old Japanese oak tree is cut down and left for 2 month to season.
2. Cutting wood to size (January)
In two months, cut the tree to about 1m25cm (4 feet and 1inch).
3. Inoculation (January-March)
A wood is drilled 20 holes per a log and insert shiitake mushroom mycelia in holes.
4. Laying yard (For two years)
Woods inoculated with fungus are laid covering with leaves to make a good situation for shiitake growth.
5. Stacking the logs
After laying yard for two years, logs are moved at humid place.
6. Growth and harvest of shiitake mushrooms
Shiitake mushroom grows well in spring and autumn mainly.
When mushrooms grows in an proper size, they are picked.
※ Shiitake mushroom grows soon because they are sensitive to temperature and humidity variation. Shiitake mushrooms are picked several times a day
7. Drying
Shiitake mushrooms are put in a drier at the day of harvest.
8. Selection
Dried shiitake mushrooms are sorted by machine.
After that, they further sorted by hand according to size, shape, color.
9. Packing
Pack the dried shiitake mushrooms in a bag to order.