Mushroom · Woodland · Cultivated Logs

Reishi is a glossy, reddish-brown shelf mushroom with a tough, woody texture and deeply bitter flavor. It is not usually eaten like a tender culinary mushroom, but is traditionally dried and simmered into teas, broths, and concentrated extracts.

Known as *lingzhi* in China and *reishi* in Japan, it has long been associated with vitality, longevity, calm, and general resilience. It is now being studied for possible effects involving immune function, inflammation, blood sugar, and cardiovascular health, although these effects are not established medical treatments.