• Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) Liquid Culture Syringe for growing mushrooms and fruiting block of Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) Mushrooms with white background
  • Partially colonized Shiitake Whole Oat Grain Spawn in a 4T-INJ Unicorn bag with a white background.
  • Hand holding up partially colonized Shiitake Whole Oat Grain Spawn in a 4T-INJ Unicorn bag with a white background.
  • Fruiting block of Shiitake (Lentinula Edodes) mushrooms on a white background.
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Shiitake (Lentinula Edodes) Liquid Culture

$15.00 USD
$15.00 USD
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Shiitake mushrooms are prized in Asian cuisine for their umami-rich, savory flavor and firm texture that holds up well in sautés, soups, and grilling. Nutritionally dense, they are high in B-vitamins and contain lentinan, a polysaccharide linked to immune support and anticancer activity. Shiitake can be enjoyed fresh or dried and are often used both for their taste and health benefits.

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Growing Conditions

Lentinula Edodes
Shiitake is a cornerstone gourmet mushroom with a strong savory umami profile and a meaty cap that holds up in almost any dish. It is native to East Asia and is now cultivated worldwide.

Best fit if you want a proven seller and a staple in your kitchen. It prefers hardwood based substrates or logs. Give it time. Shiitake rewards patience with dense fruits and strong flavor.

Long colonization timeframes increases risk of contamination. Allow fruiting block to brown prior to fruiting. Typically benefits from a cold shock after browning.
  • Culinary
  • Hardwood pellets or sawdust
  • Hardwood supplemented w/ bran
  • Hardwood Logs
  • Indoor
  • Outdoor
  • Full Remove
6500K or daylight spectrum; 12 hours on, 12 hours off; Indirect light is fine
  • Intermediate

Compounds Identified in Lentinula Edodes

Every strain carries its own chemical signature. These are the compounds found in this species — documented in the scientific literature for anyone who wants to dig deeper.

7 Active Compounds

  • Lenthionine

    Known Benefits

    • Shiitake sulfur compound. Reported antimicrobial activity. Also reported anti inflammatory related effects in lab studies and additional bioactivities in recent food bioactives literature.

  • Eritadenine

    Known Benefits

    • Shiitake compound associated with lipid and cholesterol related effects. Research describes altered lipid metabolism and enhanced clearance rather than direct statin like inhibition.

  • Lentinan

    Known Benefits

    • Shiitake beta glucan fraction used as an immunomodulator in some clinical contexts. Clinical literature discusses use as an adjunct with chemotherapy in gastric cancer with immune activation endpoints.

  • Beta glucans and polysaccharides

    Known Benefits

    • Immune modulation via pattern recognition receptors including Dectin-1. Supports innate immune signaling and downstream adaptive responses. Often studied for immune resilience and inflammation balancing.

  • Ergothioneine

    Known Benefits

    • Potent dietary antioxidant and cytoprotectant. Taken up by a dedicated transporter (OCTN1) and concentrated in some tissues. Studied for reducing oxidative stress and inflammation related damage.

  • Ergosterol

    Known Benefits

    • Provitamin D2 precursor in mushrooms. Converts to vitamin D2 with UV exposure. Also reported antioxidant and anti inflammatory activities in reviews.

  • Phenolics and polyphenols

    Known Benefits

    • Antioxidant and anti inflammatory actions. Often linked to improved oxidative stress markers and to gut microbiome interactions that may influence metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Frequently Asked Questions

1 x 10ml Luer Lock Syringe filled with sterile mushroom liquid culture
1 x Luer lock cap (attached to syringe)
1 x Disposable 16g Luer Lock Needle
1 x Alcohol Prep Pad (70% Isopropyl Alcohol)
Rhizo Funga strives to produce superior liquid cultures by isolating and testing genetics from robust, high-performing specimens. Our lab utilizes advanced genetic isolation techniques, and aerates all liquid cultures ensuring vigorous mycelial growth, resulting in faster colonization, higher yields, and greater fruiting consistency . 
To maintain optimal performance and purity, always refrigerate your cultures upon arrival and practice strict aseptic techniques during handling and inoculation.We guarantee liquid culture syringes for 30 days after delivery. If you feel your syringe arrived contaminated or not as described, Contact us for a free replacement.
Liquid culture is made by sterilizing a nutrient solution—usually light malt extract or honey diluted in water—and inoculating it with a clean mycelium sample. The culture is then incubated and gently stirred or aerated until the mycelium fully colonizes the liquid, creating a nutrient-rich starter ready to inoculate grain or substrate.
Simply inject 1–2 mL of liquid culture into a sterilized grain bag or jar through the injection port, or onto an agar plate. Shake the bag lightly once mycelium becomes visible (around 20–30 % colonized) to distribute growth evenly.
A spore syringe contains un-germinated spores—essentially the genetic lottery of a mushroom species. A liquid culture, on the other hand, contains live, actively growing mycelium that’s already been isolated for vigor and purity. That means faster, more reliable colonization.
If you’re using a magnetic stir plate or aerated setup, once or twice per day is plenty to keep the mycelium suspended and oxygenated. Hand-swirl jars gently every day or two to prevent the mycelium from forming dense clumps.
Only if it’s filtered or distilled first. Tap water can contain chlorine, minerals, or microbial contaminants that inhibit growth. Clean, low-mineral water gives the most consistent results and prevents cloudy contamination.