Today, I was out walking to the corner store when I noticed it there sitting by a tree innocuous and hard to notice at first glance unless you know what you are looking for, it was a Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondsa), also called the “Hen of the Woods”.

This specimen is just starting to emerge, and late September to mid-October is maitake season here in Michigan. Maitake mushrooms can be found growing near oak trees as well as a few other types of trees, but here in Michigan oak trees seem to be the most common type of tree where you will find them growing around the base of the trees.

Maitake means “king of mushrooms” in Japanese, and they do not call it the king for nothing! These mushrooms can grow to be quite large and as far as I am aware are the largest of the gourmet mushrooms. Generally, they grow to be 5-15lbs but there have been reports of exceptional specimens found in the wild that have reached 50-100lbs!

These mushrooms are highly valued for their gourmet qualities, and in Japan they are considered a delicacy, and can be found in upscale restaurants going for large sums of money. Here in the US, they generally range between $9-15 per pound, which is not a bad price considering how large they can be.

So, how does the maitake mushroom taste?  

It really depends on how they are prepared, but most would agree that they have a very earthy taste that is robust and unique and often referred to as umami.

If you happen to find yourself outdoors, keep your eyes out for the base of oak trees as you too may find this wonderful and fascinating mushroom!