Oyster Mushroom

Pleurotus ostreatus, the oyster mushroom, oyster fungus, or hiratake, is a common edible mushroom. It was first cultivated in Germany as a subsistence measure during World War I and is now grown commercially around the world for food. It is related to the similarly cultivated king oyster mushroom.

Oyster mushrooms are a popular type of mushroom linked to several health benefits. In addition to being highly nutritious, they may promote heart and immune system health, encourage healthy blood sugar control, and provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

They taste better than the button variant, have a high protein content (about 10% to 30% of their dry weight), and are rich in vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids (such as lysine and tryptophan) – all incentive enough to try and grow them at home.