Common across the northern hemisphere, turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) are a vibrant polypore fungus gaining recognition globally as a potent medicinal mushroom. This article offers tips on how to identify, forage, cultivate, and use this colorful fungi with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine.
How to identify turkey tail mushrooms
Turkey tail mushrooms are a bracket fungus in the Polyporaceae family of fungi and can be found growing in tiered layers of overlapping clusters or rosettes (like hen of the woods) on a variety of dead logs, stumps, and branches in hardwood forests from North America to Europe and Asia. Resembling multicolored feathers of a wild turkey’s tail, the top side of their fruiting bodies or brackets are visually striking, displaying concentric zones of varying colors including black, brown, white, and cream with the growing margin always lightest in color. Relatively small and thin (1 to 3 inches wide and 1 to 4 mm thick), they are flexible and leathery in texture with a white to light gray underside covered in dense, small pores (3 to 8 per millimeter) that darken with age and release white spores. A mushroom by many names including Coriolis Mushroom, it is also known as Coriolus versicolor and in Japan it is called kawaratake meaning “mushroom by the riverbank,” while in China it is called yun zhi or “rain cloud mushroom.”
Where can I find turkey tail mushrooms?
Turkey tail is a saprophyte and feeds on dead and dying organic material. More specifically it is a white rot fungi and decays the tough lignin found in plant cell walls, leaving the darker cellulose behind. As such, they contribute to healthy forests by recycling nutrients back into the soil. Given their broad range they may be the most common decomposer of hardwoods in North America, if not in the entire northern hemisphere. Turkey tail has a few mushroom lookalikes including False Turkey Tail (Stereum ostrea), Violet Toothed Polypore (Trichaptum biforme) and Gilled Polypore (Trametes betula). While all are non-toxic, we highly recommend consulting a human expert, joining a mushroom identification forum or foray, or studying a field guide as you identify new species. Here are a few trusted resources to help you in your identification journey: Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England by David L. Spahr, Mushrooms: How to Identify and Gather Wild Mushrooms and Other Fungi by DK Books, and the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mushrooms.
How to grow turkey tail mushrooms
Turkey tail mushrooms can be found growing on a variety of tree species, making them fairly easy to find in your local woodlot, park, or forest from mid-summer through fall across the northern hemisphere. If you have the time, space and materials to do so, growing turkey tail outdoors is possible using the standard drill and fill method of log cultivation more familiar to oyster and shiitake growers, or indoors using supplemented sawdust blocks like North Spore’s Mastr Mix substrate. While North Spore does not currently offer turkey tail mushroom spawn, you can grow it yourself using a grain bag inoculated with a liquid culture syringe or plate from our culture bank. Outdoor log cultivation may yield mushrooms in a year or more, so patience is key. Harvesting is simple: grab the mushroom, twist, and pull it off the log or block, and turkey tail mushrooms can be placed in a brown paper bag and stored in the fridge for up to 14 days, or dried and ground or frozen for long term storage.
What are the medicinal and nutritional qualities of turkey tail mushrooms?
Used as a medicine in China, Japan, and among Native American tribes for centuries, turkey tail mushrooms have been traditionally used as a tonic, tea, or soup to cure several illnesses, such as the flu, the common cold, and stomach issues. Modern research highlights their role in supporting immune function, reducing inflammation, improving gut health, and aiding in cancer treatments. These mushrooms also support wound healing, exhibit antimicrobial properties, and promote beneficial gut microflora and are rich in β-glucan polysaccharides, known for their antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-tumor effects. A preparation made from the turkey tail mushroom, known as krestin, has been used as a supportive therapy in breast, lung, gastric, pancreatic, and liver cancer treatment in Japan for decades. A notable 2012 clinical trial demonstrated that breast cancer patients who took capsules of powdered turkey tail mushrooms regained immune function more rapidly after radiation therapy compared to those who did not. While promising, it is advisable to consult healthcare professionals before incorporating turkey tail mushroom tinctures, capsules, chocolates, or other supplements into a health regimen, especially for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions or those on medication.
How to cook turkey tail mushrooms
Turkey tail mushrooms are not typically consumed as food due to their tough texture. That being said, they are often used in teas, broths, and tinctures to extract their medicinal compounds. To make tea, bring a cup or two of water to a boil, add two to three tablespoons of turkey tail mushrooms, reduce the heat, simmer for 15-20 minutes, and strain. Since the mushroom has a mild, earthy or woody flavor, a splash of maple syrup or honey goes a long way!
Final thoughts on turkey tail
Turkey tail mushrooms are gaining recognition globally for their health benefits, particularly in boosting the immune system. Traditionally used to treat various ailments, they are now popular as a natural remedy and can be consumed as tea, extract, or as a daily supplement. With their ecological importance and ease of cultivation or foraging, turkey tail mushrooms blend ancient wisdom with modern wellness practices, offering a holistic approach to health and wellness.