It is natural for size variation in shiiktake mushrooms to occur. Shiitake is native to parts of Asia but are now grown around the globe, becoming the second most cultivated mushroom worldwide. Lentinula edodes has been a choice food for millennia in Asia and is prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its healthful qualities. Reconstituted dried shiitake mushrooms can be sautéed with vegetables and tofu, or added to soups, sauces, and stir fries. Shiitake mushroom can also be infused into broths and enjoyed as an earthy tea. The beneficial properties of shiitake mushrooms have been prized in traditional Chinese medicine for over 6,000 years. The antioxidant activity of polysaccharides (beta-glucans) contained in shiitake help maintain cell integrity and fight free radicals. Shiitake supports immune health to help you stay feeling your best and supports the body’s immune defenses to stay feeling healthy.*