Some mushrooms are highly sought-after for their use in cooking. Others get used for their medicinal benefits.
Turkey tail mushrooms fall into the second category. They contain a number of beneficial compounds that make them worth consuming.
The problem is that you can’t simply eat turkey tail mushrooms like portobellos or oyster mushrooms. Their thick and woody structure makes them basically inedible to humans.
These mushrooms need to get prepared in specific ways if you want to benefit from them.
The good news is that preparing turkey tail mushrooms as a tea or supplement isn’t difficult.
In this article we’ll explain how you can use turkey tails for medicinal use. We’ll also go over how to find and identify them, what their benefits are and more. Keep reading to see if turkey tail mushrooms are something you might want to add to your daily health regimen.
And if you’re in the UK I’d love you to have a look at our MycoTonics range of medicinal extracts which includes Turkey Tail.
Turkey tail mushrooms are rapidly gaining popularity for their potential health benefits, unique taste and meaty texture. But many people are unsure how to actually prepare and eat these intriguing fungi. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the different ways to enjoy turkey tails, from making tea to cooking recipes, so you can easily incorporate these medicinal mushrooms into your diet.
Turkey tail mushrooms, known scientifically as Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor, are a polypore mushroom that grows abundantly on decaying logs all over the world They get their common name from their appearance – brightly colored concentric bands that look like the spread tail feathers of a turkey
These mushrooms have a long history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese medicine and Japanese herbalism, where they are called Yun Zhi and kawaratake respectively Modern research has started to validate many of the traditional health claims about turkey tails. They contain polysaccharides that seem to stimulate immune function and may have anti-tumor effects
In addition to their health benefits, turkey tails have a chewy, velvety texture and an earthy, umami flavor when cooked. Their versatility makes them a fantastic addition to many dishes.
Choosing Turkey Tails – Fresh or Dried?
Turkey tails can be found either fresh or dried. Both forms have their pros and cons:
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Fresh turkey tails – Have more intense mushroom flavor which is great for cooking. However, they don’t last long.
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Dried turkey tails – Can be stored for over a year, much more convenient. Better for making tea, broths, extracts. Rehydrate before cooking.
When selecting either fresh or dried, look for turkey tails that are clean with no visible mold and sourced from a reputable grower or company. Organic and wild-harvested are best.
Cleaning and Prepping Fresh Turkey Tails
Proper cleaning and prep is vital before eating fresh turkey tails. Follow these steps:
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Carefully trim off any dirty, dried or woody parts using a knife.
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Rinse briefly under running water to remove debris. Don’t soak.
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Pat dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
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For cooking, slice thinly or dice into bite-sized pieces.
Now the mushrooms are ready to be cooked and eaten!
Cooking Methods for Turkey Tail Mushrooms
The mild taste and meaty texture of turkey tails work well with various cooking methods:
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Sautéed – Slice and sauté in butter or olive oil for 5-7 minutes. Season as desired.
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Soups & Stews – Add chopped or dried, rehydrated turkey tails to soups and stews. Pair well with veggies.
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Baked – Roast diced turkey tails at 400°F for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned. Toss in oil and seasonings.
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With Grains – Mix rehydrated, chopped turkey tails into rice, quinoa or oatmeal.
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Powdered – Grind dried turkey tails into powder. Add to smoothies, sprinkle on foods.
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Tea – Simmer dried turkey tails in water for 15+ minutes to extract nutrients and flavor.
Turkey tails pair well with garlic, ginger, thyme and soy sauce. Get creative with seasonings!
Simple Recipe Ideas with Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Here are some easy ways to start cooking with turkey tail mushrooms:
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Turkey Tail Fried Rice – Sauté diced turkey tails with veggies. Add cooked rice and soy sauce.
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Turkey Tail Mushroom Soup – Simmer turkey tails in chicken or veggie broth with onions, carrots, potatoes.
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Turkey Tail Breakfast Hash – Fry turkey tails with potatoes, peppers, onions, eggs. Top with cheese.
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Chai Spiced Turkey Tail Tea – Simmer dried turkey tails in water with chai spices – cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger.
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Turkey Tail Pot Pie – Sauté turkey tails with carrots and peas. Mix into creamy sauce with pie dough topping.
Making Turkey Tail Mushroom Tea
One of the most popular ways to eat turkey tail mushrooms is by making a medicinal tea or broth. To make basic turkey tail tea:
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Add 1 cup dried turkey tail pieces to 5 cups water in a pot.
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Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 15-30 minutes.
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Strain out mushrooms pieces through a sieve.
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Add lemon, honey or spices as desired.
Dried mushrooms work best for tea, but you can also use fresh turkey tail slices. Just simmer for a longer period of time, at least 1 hour. Sipping this earthy tea is a comforting, easy way to get the benefits of turkey tails.
Nutrition and Potential Health Benefits
What makes turkey tail mushrooms so interesting from a health perspective? Let’s examine some of the key nutrients and benefits:
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Contains polysaccharides – Compounds that stimulate immune function by enhancing immune cell activity.
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Antioxidants – Limit cell damage by free radicals. May reduce cancer risk and inflammation.
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Prebiotics – Polysaccharides feed beneficial gut bacteria, supporting microbiome health.
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Anticancer effects – Studies show extracts support efficacy of cancer treatments. Clinical trials are underway.
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Anti-viral activity – Early research indicates turkey tails may help fight viral infections.
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Heart health – Studies found turkey tails reduced LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in animals.
The unique properties of turkey tail mushrooms combine to offer promising wellness benefits. But more studies are still needed to verify all the traditional uses. It’s best to consult your doctor before using turkey tail supplements.
Dosage Guidelines and Safety Tips
Most studies indicate turkey tail mushrooms are safe, especially when consuming culinary amounts. But here are some tips:
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Start with small amounts like 1-3 grams daily to assess tolerance.
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Follow supplement label instructions carefully and don’t exceed dosage.
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Consult your doctor if you have medical conditions or take prescription medications.
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Avoid in pregnancy or breastfeeding since safety is unknown. Stop if any digestive upset occurs.
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Purchase high quality products from reputable sources to avoid contamination.
With some basic knowledge, turkey tail mushrooms can be an interesting addition to your diet and wellness regimen. Their potential to support health makes them worth exploring. Just be sure to educate yourself and find a preparation method that suits your lifestyle.
How To Find and Identify Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Turkey tail mushroom identification is straightforward compared to many other species of mushrooms.
Turkey tail mushrooms don’t have any known poisonous look-alikes. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still try to positively identify them though.
You don’t want to go through all the work of collecting and preparing another type of mushroom that won’t provide the medicinal benefits that you’re looking for.
Here are some things to look for if you want to identify real turkey tail mushrooms.
How Do You Cook Turkey Tail Mushrooms?
However, making turkey tail mushroom tea isn’t as easy as just pouring hot water over your mushroom powder for a few minutes. To obtain the maximum benefit, we recommend boiling turkey tails for at least one hour. That will help to extract as many beneficial compounds as possible.
Turkey Tail Extract 2018 – Super easy to make / very healthy mushroom -Trametes versicolor tincture
FAQ
Can I eat raw turkey tail?
Foragers may find turkey tail mushrooms in the wild, but they cannot be consumed raw.
How do you prepare turkey tails to eat?
A simple way to cook them is to braise—brown them in a little oil in a saucepan, then add salted water or broth to cover them; bring the liquid to a boil, then turn the burner to low and cook until fork-tender. They are fatty, so you may want to pour off the rendered fat if you want to make gravy.
Is turkey tail mushroom hard on the liver?
Turkey tail mushroom is not usually hard on the liver and is very well tolerated by most dogs.
How long does it take for turkey tail mushroom to work?
Increasing good gut flora
One study showed that taking a turkey tail extract over eight weeks resulted in positive changes to the microbiome, specifically repopulating the gut with beneficial strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus whilst reducing harmful bacteria such as Clostridium and Staphylococcus.
Can you eat fresh turkey tail mushrooms?
Fresh turkey tail can be made into a tea or broth. Unlike other mushrooms, the turkey tail mushroom itself is too tough to actually eat even when fresh. Its undigestible composition is why the medicinal compounds are extracted from its fruiting body into consumable forms such as liquid or powder. Now, here’s something interesting I realized.
Can you eat turkey tail if you have a mushroom allergy?
Additionally, because turkey tail is a fungus, anyone with a mushroom or mold allergy should not use it. Taking any mushroom extract could cause a life threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. It is also important to note that not all dietary supplement products are safe.
Is turkey tail mushroom good for You?
It’s packed with pure turkey tail mushroom extract, which is said to enhance cognitive function while reducing fatigue and inflammation thanks to its powerful antioxidant properties. £24.99, theshroomshop.co.uk