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Wood Ear mushrooms are small to medium in size, averaging 3-8 centimeters in diameter, and are curved and wavy with an ear-like or cup-like shape. The fruiting bodies are brown to dark brown with a slippery or gelatinous texture and can be made up of smooth, wavy edges or many folds and wrinkles with some veining. With age, the gill-less and stemless fungus darkens, and the spores range in color from yellow, cream, to white. When cooked, Wood Ear mushrooms are firm, crunchy, and toothsome with a mild, musty flavor.
Wild Wood Ear mushrooms are available from early summer through early winter, while the cultivated versions are available year-round.
Wood Ear mushrooms, botanically classified as Auricularia polytricha, are a wild, edible ear jelly fungus that is a member of the Auriculariaceae family. Also known as the Cloud Ear, Tree Ear, Black fungus, and Jelly Ear, Wood Ear mushrooms are often mistaken for Auricularia auricula-judae, with the main difference between the two species being their size. Wood Ear mushrooms are found in temperate forests and grow in groups predominately on elder trees, but they have also been found on dead and living trees such as ash, spindle, and beech. These mushrooms are also cultivated around the world in bags of sawdust and are dried and exported for commercial use. Wood Ear mushrooms are utilized for their chewy texture rather than their mild taste and are a popular textural element in many Asian soup dishes.
Wood Ear mushrooms contain iron, protein, fiber, and vitamins B1 and B2
Wood ear mushrooms are best suited for cooked applications such as boiling, stir-frying, and sautéing. Before cooking, the fungus should be rinsed, and any tough patches should be removed. Used for their chewy and toothsome texture, they can be added to soups, salads, or stir-fries and readily absorb accompanying flavors. Wood ear mushrooms are commonly added to Chinese hot and sour soup and to Szechwan and Hunan cuisine to soak up the spicier flavors. Outside of China, Wood Ear mushrooms are most commonly found in dried form and can easily be reconstituted. To rehydrate, the fungus should be soaked in water for at least half an hour. Wood Ear mushrooms pair well with potatoes, fermented black beans, green onions, onions, ginger, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, sesame oil, cilantro, parsley, bay leaves, allspice, snow thistle, cucumber, bamboo shoots, green peas, tofu, pork, ham, shrimp, and crab. They should be used immediately and will only keep for a couple of days when wrapped in paper towels and stored in the refrigerator.
In Asia, Wood Ear mushrooms are known as Yung ngo, Kikurage, Mokurage, and Aragekikurage. The Chinese call it "Hei mu-er,” and consider the Wood Ear mushroom to be both edible and medicinal as it has been used since the Tang dynasty from 618-907 BCE. In China, Wood Ear mushrooms are added to dishes to help improve breathing, circulation, sore throats, and wellbeing, and to help reduce colds and fevers.
Wood Ear mushrooms are native to Asia and select islands in the Pacific Ocean and have been growing since ancient times. First classified in 1753 and then reclassified multiple times through 1888, today most major Asian countries cultivate Wood Ear mushrooms and export the fungus in dried form around the world. Wood Ear mushrooms can be found fresh at local markets in Asia and in dried form in Asia, Europe, Indonesia, the South Pacific, Australia, Africa, North America, and South America.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Wood Ear Mushrooms. One
is easiest, three is harder.
Recently Spotted
People have spotted Wood Ear Mushrooms using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
| Food Buzz: History of Mushrooms | Listen |
Description/Taste
Wood Ear mushrooms are small to medium in size, averaging 3-8 centimeters in diameter, and are curved and wavy with an ear-like or cup-like shape. The fruiting bodies are brown to dark brown with a slippery or gelatinous texture and can be made up of smooth, wavy edges or many folds and wrinkles with some veining. With age, the gill-less and stemless fungus darkens, and the spores range in color from yellow, cream, to white. When cooked, Wood Ear mushrooms are firm, crunchy, and toothsome with a mild, musty flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Wild Wood Ear mushrooms are available from early summer through early winter, while the cultivated versions are available year-round.
Current Facts
Wood Ear mushrooms, botanically classified as Auricularia polytricha, are a wild, edible ear jelly fungus that is a member of the Auriculariaceae family. Also known as the Cloud Ear, Tree Ear, Black fungus, and Jelly Ear, Wood Ear mushrooms are often mistaken for Auricularia auricula-judae, with the main difference between the two species being their size. Wood Ear mushrooms are found in temperate forests and grow in groups predominately on elder trees, but they have also been found on dead and living trees such as ash, spindle, and beech. These mushrooms are also cultivated around the world in bags of sawdust and are dried and exported for commercial use. Wood Ear mushrooms are utilized for their chewy texture rather than their mild taste and are a popular textural element in many Asian soup dishes.
Nutritional Value
Wood Ear mushrooms contain iron, protein, fiber, and vitamins B1 and B2
Applications
Wood ear mushrooms are best suited for cooked applications such as boiling, stir-frying, and sautéing. Before cooking, the fungus should be rinsed, and any tough patches should be removed. Used for their chewy and toothsome texture, they can be added to soups, salads, or stir-fries and readily absorb accompanying flavors. Wood ear mushrooms are commonly added to Chinese hot and sour soup and to Szechwan and Hunan cuisine to soak up the spicier flavors. Outside of China, Wood Ear mushrooms are most commonly found in dried form and can easily be reconstituted. To rehydrate, the fungus should be soaked in water for at least half an hour. Wood Ear mushrooms pair well with potatoes, fermented black beans, green onions, onions, ginger, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, sesame oil, cilantro, parsley, bay leaves, allspice, snow thistle, cucumber, bamboo shoots, green peas, tofu, pork, ham, shrimp, and crab. They should be used immediately and will only keep for a couple of days when wrapped in paper towels and stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Asia, Wood Ear mushrooms are known as Yung ngo, Kikurage, Mokurage, and Aragekikurage. The Chinese call it "Hei mu-er,” and consider the Wood Ear mushroom to be both edible and medicinal as it has been used since the Tang dynasty from 618-907 BCE. In China, Wood Ear mushrooms are added to dishes to help improve breathing, circulation, sore throats, and wellbeing, and to help reduce colds and fevers.
Geography/History
Wood Ear mushrooms are native to Asia and select islands in the Pacific Ocean and have been growing since ancient times. First classified in 1753 and then reclassified multiple times through 1888, today most major Asian countries cultivate Wood Ear mushrooms and export the fungus in dried form around the world. Wood Ear mushrooms can be found fresh at local markets in Asia and in dried form in Asia, Europe, Indonesia, the South Pacific, Australia, Africa, North America, and South America.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Trattoria Positano | Cardiff CA | 760-320-111 |
| Red O Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-291-8360 |
| Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| Westin Gaslamp Quarter | San Diego CA | 619-239-2200 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Wood Ear Mushrooms. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Citron & Vanille |
|
Coconut Crêpes Stuffed with Shrimps, Wood Ear Mushrooms and Spinach |
| Tasty Kitchen |
|
Sliced Pork & Wood Ear Mushroom Stir Fry |
Recently Spotted
People have spotted Wood Ear Mushrooms using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
H Mart
Near Poway, California, United StatesAbout 23 days ago, 3/01/19 Spotter's comments : Wood Ear Mushrooms spotted at H Mart. 
Foodtown
Food Town Grocery
Near Davie, Florida, United States6431 Stirling Rd Davie, Davie 33314 1-954-797-7791 About 66 days ago, 1/17/19 Spotter's comments : Wood Ear Mushrooms spotted at Foodtown. Asian Food Center Near Shoreline, Washington, United States About 328 days ago, 4/30/18 Spotter's comments : Wood Ear Mushrooms spotted at Asian Food Center. 
99 Ranch Market
Near San Diego, CA, United StatesAbout 647 days ago, 6/15/17 Spotter's comments : Wood Ear Mushrooms spotted at 99 Ranch Market. Greenville South Carolina Near Greenville, South Carolina, United States About 670 days ago, 5/23/17 |
