Maitake mushroom, commonly referred to as the “hen of the woods”, has a fascinating origin story, starting in Japan, where maitake has been enjoyed as a super food for thousands of years. Maitake means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese, and while there are many reasons this mushroom may make one dance with joy, one story stands out more than the others. Maitake was a highly valued commodity in feudal Japan, where local lords would trade their subjects an equivalent weight in silver for maitake. Thus, the name “dancing mushroom” stems from the Japanese commoners who would dance for joy when they found maitake, knowing they would be greatly compensated for their discovery. The mushroom was so highly valued in Japan that up until it was commercially grown, the expert mushroom foragers would keep their harvest areas so secret that they would only reveal their locations after their death in their wills. Maitake mushrooms are native to China, northeastern Japan, and North America, where they have been harvested and consumed for centuries.

In Japan, maitake mushrooms have been highly prized for their culinary and medicinal properties. They have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. The mushrooms are also a popular ingredient in Japanese cuisine, where they are often used in dishes such as stir-fries, soups, and stews.

In the West, maitake mushrooms gained popularity in the late 20th century, as interest in natural health remedies and alternative medicine grew. They have been the subject of numerous scientific studies that have investigated their potential health benefits, including their anti-tumor and immune-boosting effects.