Wood Ear

Ingredient Name: Wood ear, cloud ear, tree ear, black fungus

Chinese Name: 木耳 (mu er)

What is this?

• An edible fungus used in Chinese and other Asian cuisines


• Wood ear is often used in stews, soups, or stir-fried with other vegetables


• It has a light, earthy flavor and a slightly crunchy, spongy texture


• When cooked with other ingredients, it is great at absorbing the flavors around it

How do I prepare it?

• Soak for at least 30 minutes in warm water (it will expand to many times it’s original size)


• Trim any tough or gritty parts off


• Rinse and it is ready for use

Where can I buy this?

• Wood ear is commonly sold dried


• It is available in Asian supermarkets

What is the cost?

• Wood ear is inexpensive to buy and costs less than $2 CAD for one ounce

Any benefits?

• Wood ear is said to increase fluidity of the blood and improve circulation


• It is often made into a “tea” (boiled with water) and given to women who have recently delivered a baby to help eliminate blood from the uterus faster

Any precautions?

• None that we know of