Species: Auricularia heimuer
Common Names: Black Wood Ear, Wood Ear, and Black Fungus
Culture Collection Origin: USA
Black Wood Ear is a distinctive gourmet mushroom recognized for its ear-shaped, dark brown to black fruiting bodies and crisp, gelatinous texture. Widely used throughout East Asian cuisine, it is prized for its mild flavor and exceptional ability to absorb the flavors of surrounding ingredients, making it a popular addition to stir-fries, soups, hot pots, salads, and noodle dishes.
Beyond its culinary appeal, Black Wood Ear is naturally rich in dietary fiber, polysaccharides, antioxidants, vitamins, and essential minerals. It has been the subject of extensive scientific research for its potential roles in supporting cardiovascular health, antioxidant activity, immune function, and overall wellness, making it one of the most highly regarded functional gourmet mushrooms.
Interesting Fact: Black Wood Ear belongs to a different group of fungi than Tremella; however, a related companion fungus (Annulohypoxylon archeri) is commonly used to support the cultivation of Tremella fuciformis (Snow Fungus). Because of their close association in cultivation, growers interested in producing Tremella often become familiar with Wood Ear and its related companion species.
Each liquid culture contains actively growing mycelium from a selected culture, providing a more consistent starting point than working from spores.
What You Receive:
- One freshly prepared 10 mL liquid culture syringe
- Syringe supplied closed and securely capped
- One sterile needle
- One alcohol preparation wipe
Freshly Prepared and Contamination-Screened:
Every syringe is prepared fresh under sterile conditions after your order is received. Before shipment, a sample from each batch is transferred onto sterile agar in a Petri dish and observed during a quality-control screening period to verify the absence of contamination.
Please allow 1–3 business days for this contamination-screening process to be completed before your order is dispatched.
Quality Guarantee:
If your liquid culture is confirmed to be contaminated upon arrival, contact us promptly with clear photographs. We will review the claim and, if confirmed, provide a replacement at no additional charge.
Proper sterile technique must be used after opening, as contamination introduced during handling, inoculation, storage, or cultivation is outside our control.
Storage:
Keep the syringe refrigerated (2–8°C) and protected from direct light. The culture may be stored for up to 6 months under refrigeration, although we recommend using it as soon as practical for the most vigorous growth.
Do not freeze. Gently shake the syringe before use to evenly redistribute the mycelium.
Important Information:
This product does not include cultivation instructions. Customers are responsible for researching the appropriate substrate, incubation conditions, fruiting temperatures, humidity, fresh-air exchange, and other cultivation requirements for Black Wood Ear mushrooms before purchasing.
Liquid culture appearance naturally varies. Healthy mycelium may appear as cloudy, wispy, stringy, or suspended white growth within the nutrient solution.
For gourmet and functional mushroom cultivation only. Not intended for human or animal consumption. Do not inject into humans or animals.