OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Shiitake mushrooms have wide, tan or brown caps that look like little umbrellas and very sturdy stems. People in Japan and China have been growing shiitake mushrooms for over 1,000 years! They are one of the most popular mushrooms in the whole world.

In the wild, shiitakes grow on the bark of old logs and dead trees in the forest. Their name comes from the Japanese word “shii,” which is the name of the tree they love to grow on. Farmers grow them on special logs or blocks of sawdust, and it takes several months for the mushrooms to pop out.