Cultivation

Growing organically, from beech to shiitake

We grow our shiitakes on organic substrate. The straw and the pressed beech wood that goes into making this substrate is steamed under heavy pressure beforehand to kill any diseases and bacteria. No chemical pesticides are used in this process. The shiitake fungus (or spawn) is injected into this sterile mix. It then arrives at our farm, where it ripens in conditioned space for seven months until the root system (mycelium) matures. Essentially, what we do at our farm is imitate the seasonal cycle.

Simulating the seasons

When the root system is mature, we lower the temperature and increase the humidity to imitate autumnal conditions. The mushrooms then begin to grow. Two or three harvests are obtained. No artificial fertilisers or pesticides are used during this cultivation process.

Proud!

We are proud to be marketing such an organically sound product. The fact that we deliver shiitakes not only in the Netherlands but all over the world shows how satisfied the customers are with our product.

4 reasons to be proud

1. Pure Nature

In the wild, shiitakes grow on forest floors where they draw nutrition from dead oak. On our organic and ecological shiitake farm we imitate the natural conditions as closely as possible. We grow the shiitakes on a substrate, a mix of steamed beech wood and straw. Both are ecologically certified. No artificial fertilisers or pesticides are used on our farm. For this reason we have been granted an EKO licence, overseen by SKAL.

EKO certification is an officially registered mark which SKAL awards exclusively to products that are 100% organic. Read more about Eko Shii Take’s quality labels here.

2. Fast and fresh (it doesn't get any fresher)

Our team is passionate about quality. You can see that in our products. Every day we select only the very best mushrooms. And our delivery times are very fast. We are at your service seven days a week. Mushrooms that are picked with the utmost care in the morning can be on your plate the very next day. The last word in freshness!

3. Essential for meals (disk of 6)

Various organisations (including the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Netherlands Nutrition Foundation (Stichting Voedingscentrum Nederland)) recommend a varied diet in which fibres, vitamins and minerals are key in maintaining good health. An increase in the average weight of the Dutch population has led to a stronger public emphasis not just on exercise but on a lower daily calorie intake as well.

Shiitakes contain fibres, vitamins, proteins and minerals in a composition that fits in with this advice. Only a few consumers are aware of that. Thanks to a relatively high protein content, very low fat content and the absence of cholesterol, shiitakes are ideal for aware consumers and people on a diet. What’s more, shiitakes are rich in vitamin B, especially B12, which makes them excellent meat substitutes.

The shiitake should be added to the five-a-day chart, making it a six-a-day chart. One organisation that has been pushing for this for a very long time is the International Society for Mushroom Science. They argue that the shiitake should no longer be seen as a luxury product a meal enhancer but as an essential ingredient in our diet.

4. Food for your health (medicinal properties)

Like many other edible mushrooms, shiitakes are very good for your health. The shiitake is famous for its medicinal properties. This study by Wageningen University found that shiitake lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, activates the immune system and can reduce tumors.