The mushroom family is quite large, but there are representatives who are still little known in our region. One of these is considered to be a ram mushroom, which is significantly different from most of its relatives, as it looks like a fleece of sheep. Consider what he is and what useful qualities endowed.
Other name
Grifola curly (mushroom-ram) in Latin is called Grifola frondosa. People call him a lamb's head, a dancing mushroom, maitake or maitake.
Did you know? According to legends, the "dancing" mushroom got its name due to the fact that earlier, so that it did not lose its healing qualities, when it was gathered, they performed a ritual dance.
Edibility
Grifola curly edible. It can be easily eaten boiled or dried. Also added to soups, fried or made stuffing for ravioli. In addition to taste, it has good nutritional value.
100 g contains 31 kcal and the following substances:
- proteins - 1.9 g;
- fats - 0.2 g;
- carbohydrates - 4.3 g
Also in the composition contains cellulose, vitamins of group B, amino acids, polysaccharides, calcium, magnesium, potassium and others.
How does it look
The mushroom of this variety is quite rare in our area, it is confused with other similar ones. It grows in impressive colonies, the weight of one can be about 10 kg.
To be sure that this mushroom is in front of you, you need to know its characteristics:
- The flesh is light, slightly fragile. The aroma is strong, with a nutty flavor.
- Taurus is a large number of thin caps that resemble blades or hemispheres. They are located on small legs that branch out, creating one base that can grow up to 50 cm.
- The cap is leathery, the edges are wavy, and the inside is fleshy. It is beige on top and white on the bottom.
- On average, a bunch can weigh up to 4 kg.
Video: ram mushroom
We recommend to learn more about such edible mushrooms, like boletus, oyster mushrooms, govorushki, stitches, champignons, waves, raincoats, bovines, goatlings, boletus mushrooms, aspen mushrooms, sandflies, mokrukhi, parrozhki, boletus mushrooms, russula, mushrooms, mushrooms.
Where and when grows
The curly grifola grows more often in deciduous forests in Asia, Japan, North America and Tibet, and it is extremely difficult to find it in our country. Favorite places are stumps, the bases of fruit trees, such as cherries or apricots. You can meet her from mid-summer to mid-autumn. However, it is very difficult to pay attention to them, as many people confuse them with woody growths.
Did you know? Recent scientific studies have shown that the fungus can fight the HIV virus, so today there is a development of drugs that will help fight this disease in the future.
Benefit and harm
Like many other plants, Meytake has advantages and disadvantages. The benefits include the following points:
- fatal to hepatitis C and B;
- removes inflammation and swelling;
- increases the level of natural immunity;
- restores the nervous system;
- removes fatigue;
- lowers pressure;
- breaks down fat;
- helps patients with diabetes;
- restores liver cells;
- works as prevention against many diseases;
- strengthens bones;
- fights against tuberculosis.
It will be useful for you to read about which mushrooms are edible and poisonous, and also to learn how to check the mushrooms for edibility by popular means.
Important! Today, in order to take advantage of all these useful qualities, it is not necessary to go on long journeys in search of fungus. Thanks to pharmacology, it can be found in pharmacies, where it is sold in the form of powder or capsules.
In addition to the benefits, the mushroom ram has some contraindications, not taking into account that you can harm the body. Consider them:
- Give up using, with individual intolerance.
- You can not eat during pregnancy or lactation.
- Contraindicated in children under 12 years.
- Not recommended for people who have digestive problems or other gastrointestinal diseases.
How to use
It is recommended to choose young mushrooms for use and application in medicine and cosmetology, as the old ones not only taste unpleasant, but also lose a large number of useful qualities. 
In cooking
Since maitake is 90% water, the meals based on it are low-calorie, but at the same time quite nourishing thanks to other substances in the composition. Due to its rich taste with a clear nutty flavor, it is added to many dishes. It is a component of complex recipes or it can be a separate dish, depending on preferences.
Today, the following cooking options are known:
- In America, powdered powder is added to tea leaves, producing tea bags.
- In Japan, he enters the recipe for miso soup.
- In Korea, they are fried or steamed.
- Bake with the addition of shrimp, spices and cheese.
- Prepare tonic drinks based on dried fruit.
- Mushrooms are a great ingredient for salads.
- On the basis of their prepare sauces, soups with vegetables.
We advise you to read about the methods of proper pickling, drying, salting and freezing mushrooms.
Important! If you have found or bought fresh rag mushroom, know that it should be stored only in the refrigerator. In addition, it is better to eat mushrooms or process them within two days after cutting.
In medicine
In our country, the beneficial properties of the mushroom ram for medicine have just begun to study and have lost a lot. Since curly griffin is one of the important components of Chinese medicine for many years, and all thanks to a number of properties:
- removes inflammations;
- effectively fights many viruses and bacteria;
- performs all-stimulating and immunomodulating actions;
- normalizes metabolism in the body;
- normalizes blood cholesterol levels.
Learn more about edible and poisonous mushrooms growing on trees.
Powders based on this fungus are used to treat dermatological problems or oncological diseases. The ability to restore metabolic processes has made it a component of weight loss.
In cosmetology
Curly griffin is a frequent component of a large number of skincare cosmetics in Korea and Japan. This is possible due to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and soothing qualities.
Means based on this component:
- update the cells of the epidermis;
- increase skin elasticity;
- remove signs of early aging;
- nourish the skin;
- clean the pores.
Today, cosmetics based on the fungus can be found in the form of powders, creams, ointments and other products. Acquainted with this mushroom, everyone decides for himself whether to use his good qualities or not. The main thing is to take into account all contraindications and then you can fully enjoy it without harm to health.
