maitake

noun

mai·​ta·​ke ˈmī-ˌtä-kē  mī-ˈtä-kē 

plural maitakes

: an edible bracket fungus (Grifola frondosa) of North America and Eurasia that forms large clusters of pale gray to brown fruiting bodies comprised of wavy, fanlike caps found usually at the base of trees and that is valued for its earthy flavor and medicinal properties : hen of the woods

Maitakes are one of the few mushrooms that taste arguably as good cultivated as they do wild.

—Becky Selengut

… we have discovered a second maitake at the edge of our woods, and last year the combined weight of the two was 26 pounds.

—The Valley Breeze & Observer (Smithfield, Rhode Island)

Asian cultures have long coveted the maitake for its purported medicinal properties.

—Jim McCormac

… wine-friendly food, such as maitake mushroom tempura, halibut with spring peas, and duck confit with barley.

—Harvey Steiman

Examples of maitake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The result has been an increase in products that come without legal entanglements, which means there are products that can contain other types of mushrooms, including lions mane, chaga, reishi, maitake and a genus of mushrooms called Amanita, which can be hallucinogenic. —Joshua Kellogg, The Conversation, 15 Aug. 2025

The meat is flanked by gorgeous sides of nutty maitake mushrooms, roasted carrots and buttery acorn squash. —Annemarie Dooling, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 June 2025

Begin with an aperitif and small bites in the impressive bar area, with the likes of a maitake mushroom and ricotta tartlet. —Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

For the final version of the maitake mushroom ($19), Joyce ditched the ranch idea and decided on an allium aioli and a potion bottle of malt vinegar on the side. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025

There’s also a wide variety of seafood options, including a seafood tower laden with shellfish, ceviche and crudo and there are vegetarian offerings like grilled maitake mushrooms, as well as a wine program. —Pamela Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2025

Don’t sleep on the pizzas from the wood-fire oven, particularly the maitake mushroom pizza, which may induce fighting over the last slice. —Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025

Restaurants that opened and closed in February Look for the new maitake mushroom shawarma-style sandwich and more at a new restaurant that draws from Mediterranean countries. —Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2025

The maitake broth has no business having that depth of flavor. —Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese, from mai (earlier mahi) "dance, dancing" + take "mushroom"

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for maitake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache