Shiitake

The Shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia. It has both culinary and medicinal use. Fresh and dried shiitake are a popular ingredient in East Asian cookery. In Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisines, they are often sauteed in vegetarian dishes or cooked in stews and soups. Shiitake is said to have an anti-tumor effect and is believed to help against arthritis; it is even used in some beauty products (moisturisers).