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Mushrooms, against the public record

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Updated

What is actually known about each one

Three kinds of mushroom on one site: the ones sold for an effect, the ones that are illegal nearly everywhere and carry a serious trial record anyway, and the ones you cook. Every claim here is set against the public trial register and the indexed literature, and says which of the two it came from.

Sold for an effect

Twenty-five mushrooms people take for something, each one placed by how far the research has actually got: repeated trials in people, a first trial, a trial still running, laboratory work, or tradition alone.

Magic mushrooms

The species people mean, the compound the trials are actually about, where the law stands, and the brown mushrooms that have killed people who were looking for these.

What they are like to eat

Taste, texture and how each one is cooked — and the few that must be cooked a particular way or not eaten at all.

Everything, as it comes in

Reishi, Ganoderma lucidumReishiGanoderma lucidumRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is cancer, supportive and adjuvantCordyceps, Cordyceps militarisCordycepsCordyceps militarisRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is kidneyShiitake, Lentinula edodesShiitakeLentinula edodesRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is cancer, supportive and adjuvantAntrodia, Taiwanofungus camphoratusAntrodiaTaiwanofungus camphoratusRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is cancer, supportive and adjuvantTurkey tail, Trametes versicolorTurkey tailTrametes versicolorRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is cancer, supportive and adjuvantLion's mane, Hericium erinaceusLion's maneHericium erinaceusRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is memory and focusOyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatusOyster mushroomPleurotus ostreatusRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is mood and anxietyRoyal sun agaric, Agaricus subrufescensRoyal sun agaricAgaricus subrufescensRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is wound healingAgarikon, Fomitopsis officinalisAgarikonFomitopsis officinalisRepeated trialsits best-evidenced use is viral infectionMaitake, Grifola frondosaMaitakeGrifola frondosaA first trialits best-evidenced use is cancer, supportive and adjuvantButton mushroom, Agaricus bisporusButton mushroomAgaricus bisporusA first trialits best-evidenced use is nutritionZhu ling, Polyporus umbellatusZhu lingPolyporus umbellatusA first trialits best-evidenced use is liverCauliflower fungus, Sparassis crispaCauliflower fungusSparassis crispaA first trialits best-evidenced use is skinChaga, Inonotus obliquusChagaInonotus obliquusBeing tested nowits best-evidenced use is sleepTremella, Tremella fuciformisTremellaTremella fuciformisBeing tested nowits best-evidenced use is memory and focusKing oyster, Pleurotus eryngiiKing oysterPleurotus eryngiiBeing tested nowEnoki, Flammulina velutipesEnokiFlammulina velutipesLaboratory workits best-evidenced use is wound healingWood ear, Auricularia auricula-judaeWood earAuricularia auricula-judaeLaboratory workits best-evidenced use is wound healingShimeji, Hypsizygus marmoreusShimejiHypsizygus marmoreusLaboratory workits best-evidenced use is wound healingBirch polypore, Fomitopsis betulinaBirch polyporeFomitopsis betulinaLaboratory workits best-evidenced use is wound healingArtist's conk, Ganoderma applanatumArtist's conkGanoderma applanatumLaboratory workits best-evidenced use is wound healingChicken of the woods, Laetiporus sulphureusChicken of the woodsLaetiporus sulphureusLaboratory workits best-evidenced use is wound healingMorel, Morchella esculentaMorelMorchella esculentaLaboratory workits best-evidenced use is wound healingPsilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe cubensisPsilocybe cubensisPsilocybe cubensisMagic mushroomsgolden teacher, cubes, San IsidroLiberty cap, Psilocybe semilanceataLiberty capPsilocybe semilanceataMagic mushroomsliberty cap, witch's hatWavy cap, Psilocybe cyanescensWavy capPsilocybe cyanescensMagic mushroomswavy capFlying saucer, Psilocybe azurescensFlying saucerPsilocybe azurescensMagic mushroomsflying saucer, azziesPsilocybe mexicana, Psilocybe mexicanaPsilocybe mexicanaPsilocybe mexicanaMagic mushroomsteonanácatl, pajaritosBlue meanie, Panaeolus cyanescensBlue meaniePanaeolus cyanescensMagic mushroomsblue meanie, CopelandiaPsilocybe baeocystis, Psilocybe baeocystisPsilocybe baeocystisPsilocybe baeocystisMagic mushroomsbottle cap, knobby topsFly agaric, Amanita muscariaFly agaricAmanita muscariaMagic mushroomsfly agaric, fly amanitaLaughing gym, Gymnopilus junoniusLaughing gymGymnopilus junoniusMagic mushroomslaughing gym, spectacular rustgillLion's mane, Hericium erinaceusLion's maneHericium erinaceusWhat they are like to eatMild and faintly sweet, often compared to crab or scallop — the comparison is about texture as much as flavour.Reishi, Ganoderma lucidumReishiGanoderma lucidumWhat they are like to eatWoody and genuinely bitter. Nobody eats reishi for pleasure.Cordyceps, Cordyceps militarisCordycepsCordyceps militarisWhat they are like to eatMild, slightly nutty, a little savoury.Chaga, Inonotus obliquusChagaInonotus obliquusWhat they are like to eatDark, faintly vanilla, closer to a weak coffee than to a mushroom.Turkey tail, Trametes versicolorTurkey tailTrametes versicolorWhat they are like to eatAlmost none. It is thin, leathery and inedible as food.Maitake, Grifola frondosaMaitakeGrifola frondosaWhat they are like to eatDeeply savoury and peppery, one of the best-flavoured mushrooms there is.Shiitake, Lentinula edodesShiitakeLentinula edodesWhat they are like to eatStrongly savoury, almost meaty; dried ones are far more intense than fresh.Tremella, Tremella fuciformisTremellaTremella fuciformisWhat they are like to eatVirtually none — it takes on whatever it is cooked in.Royal sun agaric, Agaricus subrufescensRoyal sun agaricAgaricus subrufescensWhat they are like to eatSweet and almond-like, which is where 'almond mushroom' comes from.Oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatusOyster mushroomPleurotus ostreatusWhat they are like to eatMild, a little aniseed when very fresh.Enoki, Flammulina velutipesEnokiFlammulina velutipesWhat they are like to eatClean, mild, slightly fruity.King oyster, Pleurotus eryngiiKing oysterPleurotus eryngiiWhat they are like to eatMild and sweet, with the thickest stem of any cultivated mushroom.Zhu ling, Polyporus umbellatusZhu lingPolyporus umbellatusWhat they are like to eatBitter and medicinal.Antrodia, Taiwanofungus camphoratusAntrodiaTaiwanofungus camphoratusWhat they are like to eatIntensely bitter.Wood ear, Auricularia auricula-judaeWood earAuricularia auricula-judaeWhat they are like to eatAlmost none. It is eaten for its texture, which is crunchy and gelatinous at the same time.Cauliflower fungus, Sparassis crispaCauliflower fungusSparassis crispaWhat they are like to eatMild, nutty and faintly almond.Shimeji, Hypsizygus marmoreusShimejiHypsizygus marmoreusWhat they are like to eatBitter raw, nutty and sweet once cooked. The change is dramatic.Birch polypore, Fomitopsis betulinaBirch polyporeFomitopsis betulinaWhat they are like to eatBitter, and tough as cork.Agarikon, Fomitopsis officinalisAgarikonFomitopsis officinalisWhat they are like to eatExtremely bitter — the old name 'quinine conk' is about the taste.Artist's conk, Ganoderma applanatumArtist's conkGanoderma applanatumWhat they are like to eatWoody, no culinary value.Chicken of the woods, Laetiporus sulphureusChicken of the woodsLaetiporus sulphureusWhat they are like to eatMild, lemony, with a texture genuinely close to chicken breast when young.Morel, Morchella esculentaMorelMorchella esculentaWhat they are like to eatDeep, dark and smoky — among the most prized flavours in European cooking.Button mushroom, Agaricus bisporusButton mushroomAgaricus bisporusWhat they are like to eatMild and familiar raw; properly savoury once browned. Cremini and portobello are the same species left to grow on and darken.