Found growing on dead elder trees, or dead parts of living elder trees, wood ear mushrooms are easy to identify as no other fungus looks like it. Literally shaped like an ear, its reddish, cinnamon-brown, velvety-looking exterior can sometimes appear like it’s been lightly dusted with flour. It’s appreciated and used much more in Asia than in the West, where it is a common ingredient in stir-fries and soups. It’s also recognised and prized as a medicinal mushroom which contains some amazing properties backed-up by scientific research.

- In vitro studies conducted at Kyungpook National University in South Korea found that the extract of dried wood ear fungus was extremely effective at killing off tumour cells in cancers of the lungs, bones and stomach (Reza et al., 2015).

- Studies have shown that wood ear fungus may support heart health through its powerful hypolipidemic properties, which lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease (Kim et al., 2007).

- Packed with antioxidants and polyphenols which have a huge impact on health by fighting free radical formation and protecting cells against oxidative damage.

- Possesses potent antimicrobial properties and can help ward off bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, according to in vitro studies carried out in 2015, documented by the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms (Cai et al., 2015).

- They contain high amounts of copper, an essential micro-nutrient important for iron metabolism and essential for lung and heart function. Copper deficiency can have serious side effects such as anaemia, heart issues, weakened bones and immune system, nerve damage and diarrhoea.

- Improves breathing and circulation.