Top Grade Organic Chinese Dried Shiitake Mushrooms (1 pound) (16 Oz) About the Product A Grade Dried Shiitake Mushroom*GROWN IN CHINA*Medium to Large Size Great for BBQ and Cooking Free USPS Priority Shipping within domestic US (2 to 5 Days) Translated from Japanese, «shii» refers to the tree on which these mushrooms originally grew, while «také» simply means mushroom. These little beauties are venerated not just because of their primordial origin, but because of the many health-boosting properties they contain, discovered over centuries of ancient medicine. Having no roots, leaves, blossoms, or seeds, shiitake mushrooms fall into a special category: fungus. Famous for their rich texture and smoky flavor, they’re the second most commonly cultivated edible mushrooms, readily available on market shelves worldwide. Compared with white button mushrooms, shiitakes are purported to have more than 10 times the flavor. This can intensify when they’re dried and reconstituted by soaking in water.Health Benefits of the SHIITAKE MUSHROOMLong a symbol of longevity in Asia because of their health-promoting properties, More recently, their rich, smoky flavor has endeared them to American taste buds. These exotic hearty mushrooms can now be found in supermarket shelves across the U.S. throughout the year.Like other mushrooms, these specialty mushrooms are as mysteriously unique as they are delicious. While often thought of as a vegetable and prepared like one, mushrooms are actually a fungus, a special type of living organism that has no roots, leaves, flowers or seeds.