Our newest DREAM, the Japanese Dream, the Matsutake!
The matsutake is found in various cuisines and areas of the world, from America, to Europe, to Asia. They are most prized in Japanese dishes where they are favored for their aroma, unique taste and flavor, and their meaning (happiness and even fertility). In all cultures it is a prized mushroom, it is not farmed and is always harvested in the wild.
Tech specs: Approximately 3 Pounds As Picked, 5.0-5.5 Ounces Dried, One Full 80 Ounce (volume) Jar, Matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake).
Like our other products our Matsutake are wild picked right here in America. Right now they are very hard to find due to overwhelming demand from Japan and problems with their own domestic supply. These mushrooms form a symbiotic (helpful) relationship with trees. In Japan they typically grow in red pine forests and these have been dying off due to an invasive worm originating from North America. They can still be found in fairly large numbers in the Pacific Northwest if you know where and when to look.
Matsutake are often described as spicey, intense, or even pungent, both in flavor and in smell. To many it's either love them or hate them. I'm going to break the third wall here a moment and speak as Adam (I'm the co-founder):
"I found them to be a pleasing mushroom on the palate and on the nose. I did not find them to be intense or spicy as many others have described. I got a deep woods aroma and a great texture with a mild, earthy mushroom flavor. These are definitely the second best mushroom I've tasted, after the morel. Also their white coloring and paper thin shape makes them visually appealing and easy to cook with."
There are hundreds of recipes for matsutakes, you can Google them. You can go as simple as pan frying them or grilling them (see pictures), or you can use them as an addition to many dishes from soups to pasta dishes. They rehydrate easily and many say they can be eaten raw, but we would suggest cooking them for texture and safety.
Like our morels, these are wild picked in 2022. We take the same care when sorting and packaging them. Our pricing is as good as, or usually better than, what you will find on Amazon and physical retailers.
One of the owners of Forest Glory, Adam Schultz, is a Certified Wild Mushroom Expert (see images) so you know our products are inspected so that you only receive high quality matsutake. Additionally Forest Glory is licensed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Food and Dairy Division (see images). Forest Glory is also BBB Accredited with an A+ rating.
Shipping is FREE if you spend more than $20! We ship via USPS only. If the package is under 1 pound it goes First Class, otherwise it goes Priority Mail. Shipping time itself takes 2-4 days. Packaging time is typically one to two business days. Generally packages arrive much more quickly than this, but in case "delays happen" 5-6 business days would be in the high end.
If you haven't had dried morel matsutake before here are some common questions with the answers:
How do you prepare them?
You simply put them in water for about 20 minutes. They will rehydrate and look and taste just like they were fresh picked from the ground. Note that we sell the matsutake sliced for better dehydration and rehydration. In almost all dishes they are sliced before use. We've done that for you.
Do they taste the same?
Yes they taste exactly the same! The matsutake flavor you know and love comes through. The only thing removed during drying is water, so no flavor is removed.
How many servings is this?
You get 3 pounds as picked, the jar is 80 ounces in volume. We have prepared these, and the dream jar easily contains 8-10 servings, probably more. Many people use them in sauces and soups so it's really hard to say. 3 Pounds is generally considered to be a very large amount of matsutake.
Is this a fair price?
Yes it definitely is. These are a Japanese delicacy and can actually command much more than this depending on the season and availability. These are wild, American, hand picked mushrooms and they are very rare. Anything that is rare is expensive. We save money by buying them in bulk. By buying from us you are buying from a very reputable company with over 200,000 Facebook fans. You know they are picked in America in 2022 and they are of high quality, and you are buying from a family owned company that is here to help you 24/7. One of our owners, Adam Schultz, is also certified as a Wild Mushroom Expert so you know the matsutake are pure and of a high quality. Finally, our facility is licensed by the State of Michigan. If you buy elsewhere you don't have that assurance. On top of that, we comparison shopped and our prices are right in line with, or lower than, what you would find from other source.
Why dry matsutake?
Matsutakes with water in them are a very perishable item. They only last about 7 days, so they have to be processed and shipped quickly, which is very expensive (time is money). If you remove the water then the matsutake can keep up to 36 months. They can also then be shipped using standard methods. The end result is that a pound of fresh matsutake delivered is at least $50.00, you get 3 pounds for that much when they are dried.
Is it common to dry matsutake?
Yes! More dried matsutake are eaten then fresh matsutake. Dried matsutake are eaten all year round, while fresh matsutake are only available in season. Most recipes will call for dried matsutake.
Are dried matsutake good for you?
Absolutely! Nothing is better for you or the environment then a product harvested in the wild. This is an unprocessed, unaltered, natural product that comes right from the forest into your home. Our owner, Adam Schultz, is a certified Wild Mushroom Expert (see images) so you know that when you buy from us you get safe mushrooms that are 100% matsutake. Our facility is also licensed so you know we follow clean health standards and your mushrooms are processed and packaged in a safe and clean way.
When were they picked?
We have verified that all of our dried matsutake were wild picked in AMERICA in 2022!
