Black Fungus

Black Fungus
Black Fungus (Cloud Ears)
(fresh and dried)

 

Black Fungus: (Auricularia polytricha) see illustration. Also known as cloud ear; tree ear; wood fungus, mouse ear, and jelly mushroom. It grows rapidly on a variety of woods including mango and kapok and is very similar to another fungus called Jew's ear (A. auricula). Some say the smaller cloud ear or mouse ear has a more delicate flavour than the larger wood ear.

It is mostly sold dried but is also available fresh. In its fresh form (or after the dried fungus has been reconstituted by soaking in water) it is easy to see how it derives its rather fanciful names. The frilly, brownish clumps of translucent tissue with a little imagination resemble the delicate curls of the human ear or billowing clouds. In the case of tiny mouse ear fungus, the rounded shapes which result when it is soaked are amusingly similar to those observed on the heads of Mickey Mouse and his Mouseketeers!

Wood fungus is prized in Chinese cuisine for its crunchy texture and therefore added to dishes only for the last few minutes of cooking. Delightful in salads, soups and stir-fries, it has no flavour of its own, but absorbs the seasonings it is cooked with.

Purchasing and storing: In its dried form there is a choice between the small variety which looks like flakes of greyish-black paper; or the larger variety which, even in its dried state, measures about 5-8cm (2-3 in) across and is black on one side, grey or beige on the other. After soaking, these need to be sliced into strips. All dried fungi keep well if stored airtight.

Preparation: Fungus must be soaked in warm water prior to use (15 minutes for small, 30 minutes for large). It swells to many times its size. After soaking, the fungus is rinsed thoroughly and trimmed of the tough, gritty part where it was attached to the wood. Then, particularly if using the large variety, it is cut into pieces of a suitable size and shape before adding to a dish.

Medicinal uses: Black fungus has a reputation in Chinese herbal medicine for increasing the fluidity of the blood and improving circulation. It is given to patients who suffer from atherosclerosis. Western medicine is now investigating centuries-old claims made by Eastern sages and finding them surprisingly accurate.

    Burma: kyet neywet
    China: mo-ei; wun yee
    Indonesia: kuping jamu
    Japan: kikurage
    Malaysia: kuping tikus, cendawan telinga kera
    Thailand: hed hunu

 

Encyclopedia of Asian Food
By Charmaine Solomon
Periplus Editions
Hardback, $39.95
ISBN: 0-8048-1791-X
Reprinted by permission.

 

Encyclopedia of Asian Food

Recipes

 


 

This page created July 1999

Top


 

The Global Gourmet
Return to the
Global Gourmet®
Main Page

 

July 4th Recipes
July 4th Recipes

 

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

AddThis Feed Button

 

Global Gourmet®
Shopping
Gourmet Food, Cookbooks
Kitchen Gadgets & Gifts

 
Search this site:

Advanced Search
Recent Searches

 

Departments

Kate's Global Kitchen
Kate's Books
Cookbook Profiles
Global Destinations
Holiday & Party Recipes
I Love Desserts
On Wine
Shopping

new green basics New Green Basics
cooking kids Cooking with Kids

Archives
Conversions, Charts
   & Substitutions
Forums/Message Boards
Search

About the
Global Gourmet®
   Contact Info
   Advertising
   Feedback
   Privacy Statement

 
IACP Cookbook
Award Winners

Fish Forever
Local Breads
Asian Flavors (Jean-Georges)
Morimoto: Japanese Cooking
Chocolates & Confections
Julia Child
Cook with Jamie
The World Atlas of Wine
Food: The History of Taste
Cook Everything Vegetarian
All Cookbook Winners

JBF Cookbook
Award Winners

River Cottage Meat Book
My Bombay Kitchen
Country Cooking of France
Whole Grain Breads
The EatingWell Diet
Cooking
Geography of Oysters
All Cookbook Winners

Classic Cookbooks

Betty Crocker Why It Works
The Bon Appétit Cookbook
Joy of Cooking
Fifth Taste...Umami
The Professional Chef
New American Cooking
Vegetable Love
Vegetarian Cookbooks

 
 

 
 

Copyright © 1994-2008,
Forkmedia LLC

 

 

 
 

Become a Chef:
Best Culinary Schools

 

Everything Kitchens
Coffee Makers, Blenders
Espresso Machines

 

The California Wine Club
Wine of the Month Clubs
Monthly Wine Club Gifts

 

Cheap Flights
Online Shopping

 

Groomsmen Gifts
Grooms Wedding Guide
Bridesmaids Gifts

 

Mom's Recipes

 
 

 
 

Fondue Pot
Kitchenware
& Gift Ideas