Maitake

Maitake mushroom - what is it?

Grifola frondosa is an edible and medicinal mushroom that lives in deciduous forests. It grows on the trunks of oaks, hornbeams, beeches and maples, forming large fruiting bodies weighing up to 10 kg in the lower part of old trunks. They are formed by many wavy caps growing from a central "leg" measuring from 5 to 100 mm, from which the Grifola frondosa mushroom got its scientific name. Due to its similarity to sheep's wool, it is also called the ram mushroom. In Japan it is called maitake, which means "dancing mushroom", in China - hui shu hua or "gray tree flower", in Germany - Gemeine Klapperschwamm or common rattle.

According to historical sources, maitake mushrooms have been traditionally used in Asia for over 5,000 years, and are the main culinary mushroom, along with shiitake. In the 1980s, Japan first began cultivating it in an artificial environment, learning to grow fruiting bodies weighing up to 45 kg. Along with its nutritional value, scientists have drawn attention to the medical properties of maitake, the benefits of which are being studied for a wide range of diseases.

Useful properties of maitake mushroom

The lamb's head mushroom is widely used in Japanese tradiotional folk medicine as a complex tonic and culinary product. The effectiveness of maitake as an antioxidant, liver protector, blood sugar control, cholesterol regulation, and immune system support is noted. Official medicine is investigating the properties of the grifola frondosa mushroom in the fight against malignant tumors.

According to scientific research, such a complex effect can be explained by the presence of the following components in its composition:

• beta-glucans – a group of polysaccharides with multi-vector action, of which the most significant are D-fraction, MD-fraction, X-fraction, MZ-fraction and MT-α-glucan. These polysaccharide complexes have a positive effect on the intestinal microbiota, which potentially provides antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antihypertensive, antiviral effects, activity against tumors, liver diseases, etc.;
• Grifolan is a beta-glucan that has an immunomodulatory effect, stimulating the production of T-helpers, cytokines, and antibodies, and also provides an antitumor effect.

In addition to pharmacological effects, the mushroom G. frondosa is a healthy food and dietary supplement, the intake of which provides the body with proteins (up to 40% in the composition of the mushroom), carbohydrates, dietary fiber (from 15%), vitamin D2, B vitamins and minerals (K, P, Na, Ca, Mg) with a low fat content (up to 8%) and low calorie content. From a culinary and general strengthening point of view, it is worth buying Grifola kucherova as a food flavoring and food component for its sweet taste and umami effect, which is provided by the high content of trehalose, 5'-nucleotides, aspartic and glutamic amino acids.

Buy maitake mushroom in the Papa Nature store

Our online store offers to buy maitake mushroom in Ukraine with worldwide delivery. In our catalog you can order:

• mushroom powder, which is made from dried crushed fruiting bodies of the maitake mushroom without additives, is a food supplement that can be consumed in dry form, but to increase the bioavailability of protein components and beta-glucans to (7-10%), it is advisable to take it in the form of an infusion (1 tsp. of powder per 150 ml of boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes and consume up to 3 times a day);
• Maitake mushroom extract is a powdered product of double extraction of mushroom raw materials, including the main active ingredients - beta-glucans (up to 30%). This product can be consumed dry or with water.