Shiitake tidbits
– Shiitakes contain polysaccharides that are said to build the immune system. They have been shown to have tumor-inhibiting properties in mice.
– Japanese researchers found that a raw shiitake eaten daily for one week lowered serum cholesterol by 12 percent.
– Shiitake flavor is intensified by drying. Dried shiitakes can be reconstituted by soaking.
– In Japan, growing shiitakes is a $2 billion-a-year industry, employing some 200,000 people.