In Japanese, ‘Matsu’ means pine tree and ‘take’ mushroom. As its name suggests, Matsutake mushroom only grows wildly at the base of pine trees deep in the mountains. It is one of the few mushrooms that grow beside live foliage unlike most mushrooms. In the east, Matsutake mushroom has long been prized as the king of mushrooms for its freshness, unique fragrance and its health benefits. Asians believe that this mushroom detoxifies the body thereby boosting immunity and also revitalizes the body and gives energy. Matsutake mushroom is only available for a limited time in the beginning of fall to early winter. At HanGawi, we are proud to present this prized mushroom in our fall menu. Matsutake mushroom is best served lightly cooked with minimum seasoning in order to preserve its fragrance.