Frequently Asked Questions

  • Mushrooms are low in calories, high in protein for a non-animal source, and are filled with nutrients and antioxidants. Research shows that eating more mushrooms has health benefits including boosting gut health, providing anti-inflammatory properties, and providing a source of vitamins B, D, and Potassium. Don’t just take our word for it. Check out this article:

    https://www.eatingwell.com/article/9583/5-amazing-health-benefits-of-mushrooms/

  • Using dried mushrooms for cooking is quite easy. Dried mushrooms are a staple in many regional cuisines and dishes, such as soups, sauces, stews, risottos, etc.

    Once you rehydrate mushrooms, you can use them just like the fresh ones in cooked dishes. Dried mushrooms retain their flavor and have a long shelf life.

  • Dried mushrooms should be stored in a dark cool place. They will last with full flavor for 6-12 months. After that, they are still edible for another year, but their flavor diminishes the longer they are stored.

    Once you rehydrate dried mushrooms, try to use them immediately. That’s when they are at their best. But after you soak them, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.

    The water used to rehydrate mushrooms can also be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-6 days and can be used to add mushroom flavor to soups, stews, pasta sauces, and other sauces.

  • There are two basic methods, soaking and using directly. For either method, when using whole or sliced mushrooms and pieces, we advise lightly rinsing the mushrooms first to wash them in a small amount of water. You can also use the stock or broth you plan to use in the dish.

    Clean and rinsed dried mushrooms can be added directly to recipes like soups and sauces that will be cooked for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Just lightly rinse them and place them directly in the dish. The liquid from the sauce or soup will rehydrate the mushrooms as it cooks.

    If you need to rehydrate dried mushrooms:

    1. Bring water to a boil.

    2. Place the dried mushrooms into a bowl.

    3. Top the mushrooms with boiling water. (1 cup of water for 1 ounce of dried mushrooms.)

    4. Stir occasionally.

    5. Let the mushrooms sit for 20-30 minutes until they are soft.

    6. Strain them and use them for cooking.

    The soaking liquid can be reduced or simply added directly to soups, stews, pasta sauces, and other sauces for a flavor boost.

  • Dried mushrooms tend to have a stronger, earthier flavor than fresh mushrooms. They also have a different texture. They are similar to sautéed fresh mushrooms, but with more flavor, and are a bit more moist. Therefore, you should not substitute dried mushrooms in a recipe that calls for fresh mushrooms that won’t be cooked.

    However, if you find yourself wanting to make a dish that calls for fresh mushrooms but all you have is dried, you can do this substitution:

    Three ounces of dried mushrooms (that will be rehydrated) = one pound of fresh mushrooms (that would have been sautéed).

  • Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

    This is our favorite mushroom for brain food and focus that has a long history in East Asian medicine and culinary practices. With a taste similar to lobster it is one of the finest mushrooms in the culinary arts. It may help with clarity, depression, anxiety, and brain fog. It has also shown signs that it may be able to help in the fight against cancer and dementia.

    9 Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Plus Side Effects) (healthline.com)

    Hericium erinaceus - Wikipedia

    Shiitake Mushrooms

    Shiitake mushrooms are a wonderful gift from nature and what we cultivate at Golden Cloud Brand in Appalachia. These culinary and medicinal forest mushrooms contain the same amino acids as meat, help lower cholesterol, and have shown that they may have anticancer effects. Along with these many delicious and functional benefits Shiitake Mushrooms have displayed promise in boosting your immune system, and improving heart health.

    Why Shiitake Mushrooms Are Good For You (healthline.com)

    Turkey Tail Mushrooms

    Turkey Tail Mushroom is our functional forest favorite. A  miraculous mushroom packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It may help with cancer due to their polysaccharopeptides. These mushrooms help improve gut health, are anti-inflammatory, and may boost overall immunity.

    5 Immune-Boosting Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushroom (healthline.com)

    Turkey Tail: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, Dosage, Precautions (verywellhealth.com)

    Trametes versicolor - Wikipedia

    Reishi Mushrooms

    Reishi mushrooms are a wondrous functional mushroom with a multitude of health benefits. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and today in functional forest teas to boost the immune system, reduce depression, and they may even help in the fight against cancer.

    6 Benefits of Reishi Mushroom (Plus Side Effects and Dosage) (healthline.com)

    Lingzhi (mushroom) - Wikipedia

    Cordyceps

    Cordyceps is a popular fungus used for cognitive and athletic performance that has a reported plethora of medicinal uses. With a long history in traditional eastern medicinal properties may consist of boosting heart health and immunity and reducing inflammation.

    6 Benefits of Cordyceps, All Backed by Science (Healthline)

    What Is Cordyceps? (Very Well Health)

  • Our farm grown Lemon Verbena is bright and vivacious with a citrusy flavor. This plant has been used for centuries for its lemony flavor and medicinal properties. A favorite of our fields, it can be used to reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and has antimicrobial uses.

    5 Potential Health Benefits of Lemon Verbena (healthline.com)

    Lemon Verbena Uses, Benefits & Dosage (Drugs.com Herbal Database)

    Lemon Peel is similar to Lemon Verbena in terms of its uses. Its most common use is in culinary practices to help flavor food, but it has medical properties as well. Lemon peel helps support oral health and is antifungal.

    9 Benefits and Uses of Lemon Peel (healthline.com)

    Lemongrass has proven to be a versatile plant having many benefits. True to its name it has a lemony flavor with hints of vegetal and grassy notes. It promotes sleep and relaxation, but it also has antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory components, helping support the body in many wonderful ways.

    Lemongrass Tea: 10 Benefits (healthline.com)

    What Is Lemongrass? (thespruceeats.com)

    Cymbopogon - Wikipedia

  • Ginko Biloba

    The gingko tree is native to China with leaves and nuts used in medicine for centuries. Its main uses are to treat problems of the circulatory system and to improve mental and brain health. Ginko Biloba may help brain health including dementia, depression, headaches, and anxiety. 

    12 Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba (Plus Side Effects & Dosage) (healthline.com)

    Rooibos Tea

    Rooibos tea, sometimes known as red tea due to its red color, is a full-bodied tea from South Africa. It has been used for centuries and has been proven to be full of antioxidants.

    5 Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea (Plus Side Effects) (healthline.com)

    Cinnamon

    Cinnamon is a favorite spice due to its versatility in cooking and baking and its warm and welcoming taste and smell, whether sweet or savory. Although its origin is unknown, it has been used from ancient Egypt to ancient East Asia. Cinnamon has many medicinal properties but it has been proven to be an anti-inflammatory, it’s loaded with antioxidants, and it may even improve insulin sensitivity.

    10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Cinnamon (healthline.com)

    Cinnamon - Wikipedia

    Assam Tea

    Assam tea is a bold malty tea that hails from the Assam Region of India. This tea is a great choice if you want to drink it hot or iced. With its distinct taste and versatility, we love it in our Mushroom Masala Chai!  

    Peppercorn

    Peppercorn is one if not the most popular spice in the world and hails from the Malabar coast in southwest India. It comes in a variety of colors ranging from black to green, and white to red which appear all in the same fruit but depending on when they are picked. It adds warmth and complexity to our Functional Forest Teas.

    Black pepper - Wikipedia

    Cloves

    Originating in the Moluccas, cloves add a delicious warm sweetness to any dish. It has been used throughout Asia and the Mediterranean for both culinary and medicinal uses. 

    8 Surprising Health Benefits of Cloves (healthline.com)

    Clove - Wikipedia

    Cardamom

    Cardamom is a complex spice with many culinary uses. It derives from Southern India and may have anti-inflammatory properties, tons of antioxidants, and may help lower blood pressure. 

    What Is Cardamom and How Do You Use It? (allrecipes.com)

    Cardamom - Wikipedia

    10 Health Benefits of Cardamom, Backed by Science (healthline.com)

    Chicory

    Chicory has a wonderful full-bodied taste which is earthy, slightly acidic, and slightly nutty that tastes great on its own but is delicious when added to functional forest mushroom teas. Loaded with medicinal properties it may improve digestive health, reduces inflammation, and is naturally caffeine-free. 

    Chicory Coffee: A Healthy Alternative to Coffee? (healthline.com)

    Chicory - Wikipedia

    Elderberry

    Elderberries are woodland fruit-bearing tart berries loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. They have been used to help fight the common cold or the flu and for overall immunity boosting.

    The Pros and Cons of Elderberry (healthline.com)

    Sambucus - Wikipedia

    Sencha

    Sencha is a green tea that originates from Japan. It varies slightly in taste depending on the time and place that it was harvested even how much shade it gets during the growing season. It has a vegetal, grassy, and somewhat astringent taste but all the health benefits of any green tea.

    Sencha - Wikipedia

    What Is Sencha Green Tea? (thespruceeats.com)

    Astragalus Root

    Astragalus root is an herbal supplement that has been used for traditional Eastern medicine for hundreds of years.  Ours are grown in the Appalachian foothills and may improve cardiovascular and immune systems, boost kidney function, fight against chronic fatigue, and may even show signs of helping lower blood sugar levels.

    Astragalus (Huáng Qí): Benefits, Side Effects and Dosage (healthline.com)

    Tulsi

    Tulsi or Holy Basil, is a flowering plant in the mint family grown at our local Ohio farms. An important medicinal plant, it is thought to help reduce everyday stress and anxiety, and lower blood sugar and cholesterol. Tulsi also helps you fight infections.

    Holy Basil: Benefits for Your Brain and Your Body (healthline.com)

    Ocimum tenuiflorum - Wikipedia

    Chamomile

    Chamomile is a favorite flower grown on our farm that is commonly dried and steeped either by itself or in tea blends. Warm, floral, and bright it has a calming effect as it reduces anxiety and stress; it also aids in reducing the effects of insomnia and may improve sleep quality overall. It is often suggested to drink chamomile tea after dinner or a large meal because research suggests that it aids in digestion. 

    5 Ways Chamomile Tea Benefits Your Health (healthline.com)

    Chamomile - Wikipedia