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Reishi
Ganoderma lucidum
Known as the 'Mushroom of Immortality' in traditional Chinese medicine, Reishi is a slow-growing medicinal powerhouse. Its glossy, shelf-like fruiting body is too tough to eat but makes extraordinarily potent teas and tinctures.
DID YOU KNOW?
In ancient China, finding a wild Reishi was considered so auspicious that it was depicted in the imperial palace artwork as a symbol of divine power.
OPTIMAL CONDITIONS
Temperature
70–80°F
Humidity
90–95%
Fresh Air Exchange
Low
SUBSTRATE OPTIONS
Hardwood Sawdust
Supplemented oak or maple sawdust. Standard indoor method.
Hardwood Logs
Outdoor cultivation on oak logs. Very slow but authentic.
GROWING TIMELINE
Inoculation
1 day
Introduce spawn to sterilized hardwood sawdust blocks.
Colonization
30-45 days
Slow, dense mycelium growth in warm, dark conditions.
Antler/Conk formation
14-21 days
With low FAE, antler-like structures form; with more air, shelf-like conks develop.
Maturation
14-30 days
Fruiting body hardens and develops its characteristic glossy lacquer finish.
HARVEST TIPS
- ✓Harvest when the white growing edge disappears and surface becomes glossy
- ✓Cut with a clean saw — the fruiting body is woody
- ✓Dry thoroughly before storage — can last years when dried
IN THE KITCHEN
- 🍳Too tough to eat directly — slice thin for tea
- 🍳Dual-extract tincture (water + alcohol) for maximum potency
- 🍳Add dried slices to broths for medicinal properties
MEDICINAL BENEFITS
- 💊Triterpenes — anti-inflammatory and liver-protective
- 💊Beta-glucans for immune system modulation
- 💊Adaptogenic properties for stress management
- 💊Traditional use spans 2000+ years in Chinese medicine