Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Other names: Oyster mushroom, hiratake, Ping Gu, chippikoori

Oyster mushroom, also known as Oyster mushroom (in English), hiratake (in Japanese), Ping Gu (in Chinese) or chippikoori (in Malayalam), is a species of edible mushroom that grows perennially throughout the world. It is light grey to white in colour, and its fruits are usually large, with a semi-circular or clamshell-shaped blade. This mushroom is known for its high nutritional and medicinal value. It contains large amounts of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Due to its high nutritional value and health benefits, the oyster mushroom is used in many types of products. It is most often used directly as part of culinary recipes, for example in Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine. It is popular in vegetarian and vegan diets as a meat substitute for its full, meaty flavor. In addition, oyster mushrooms are further processed into various types of food products such as soups, sauces, pasta, drinks and even vegan sausages, salami or "mushroom" steaks. In the field of food supplements, it is used to make products for boosting immunity and treating cholesterol and diabetes. Oyster mushrooms are also used in cosmetics, for example as an extract in various skin creams, meats and serums, where they act as a powerful antioxidant.