Turkey Tail

Summary

The Turkey Tail Mushrooms, also known as Trametes versicolor and Coriolus versicolor are fast-growing, tasty, and packed full of antioxidants and other medicinal qualities. Named because it looks like a fanning Turkey’s tail, this highly prized mushroom has been used for centuries in supporting immune health in North America and China.

The Turkey Tail Mushroom is easy to grow, beautiful, and has a wealth of medicinal benefits for your mind and body.

Turkey Tail Description and Taste

Named because it really does look like a Turkey’s tail, admittedly, the Turkey Tail mushroom isn’t the tastiest of all the mushrooms, although many have said it taste’s like the Shiitaki mushroom.  It has a slightly bitter, mild, earthy taste when cooked.

Colours are mixed, normally a variable of brown, yellow, grey, purple, green and black – most often within the brown to red range, However,  the outer margin is always pale – either a creamy colour or white with small, velvety hairs

The caps are between 1 to 4 inches wide, stem-less and fan-shaped (like a Turkey Tail!)

What are the uses of the Turkey Tail Mushroom?

Turkey Tail mushrooms are famed for their medicinal qualities and  have been used to heal mind and body for centuries. It contains polysaccharide peptide (PSP) and polysaccharide krestin (PSK), which are commonly used as medicine.

Turkey tail is full of antioxidants and other health-boosting compounds. Its benefits may include the following: 

Boosted immunity, Improved cognitive function, Increased exercise performance, Improved gut health, Reduced inflammation, and Lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

As well as being an excellent boost to the immune system, Turkey tail mushroom is regularly used to boost muscle strength, fight fatigue, and even combat radiation and cancer.

How to use Turkey Tail Mushrooms

The Turkey Tail mushroom should not be eaten raw. Although completely edible when cooked, the Turkey Tail is often used in teas, dried, and then powdered.

Although it is a little chewy, the Turkey Tail is often used in cooking, and because of its mild taste, it will never ‘ruin’ or dominate a meal. 

When cooking, boil it for 10 mins. Remove from heat, strain, and rinse the turkey tails with fresh water. Remove excess water. Deep fry the turkey tails for 10 mins or until they become crispy on the outside.

To make the highly recommended Turkey tail tea, first, chop the mushrooms into little pieces, add them to a large pot of water, bring the water to a boil, then simmer for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 mins, Strain the mixture and serve with a drop of honey – delicious and nutritious!

Nutritional Value

Turkey Tail mushrooms are packed full of immunity-boosting nutrients and prebiotics that aid digestion. 

High in Vitamins D and B3, the Turkey Tail mushrooms contain antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenols which are full of anti-inflammatory properties. 

How to Store Turkey Tail Mushrooms

Turkey Tail mushrooms are best dehydrated and can be kept for up to 3 years when stored in a moisture-resistant sealed container in a cool, dry, and dark place. They normally take around 2 or 3 days to dry out.

Freezing Turkey Tail mushrooms is possible and recommended to do within 24 hours of harvesting.

Out in the Wild

The Turkey tail mushroom can be found all over the world and has been around for centuries. It is extremely common in North America. The earliest documented use of Turkey Tail mushrooms was in 15th-century medicinal texts found in China.

Growing all year round, the Turkey Tail mushroom can be found growing in compact, overlapping layers and rows growing around tree trunks.