Longevity Vegetable

Last updated 2026-11-10 — "Longevity Vegetable," also known as "Braised Shiitake Mushrooms," was originally a famous dish from the imperial court of the Ming Dynasty before spreading to the general public. Shiitake mushrooms are considered top-tier among edible fungi and are often hailed as the "Queen of Mushrooms." They contain over 30 types of enzymes and 18 different amino acids. Of the eight essential amino acids required by the human body, shiitake mushrooms contain seven. Every 100 grams of dried shiitake mushrooms contains 13 grams of protein, along with various other nutrients. As a delicious dish, it has been celebrated since the Warring States period, with records in the "Lüshi Chunqiu" stating, "The most delicious flavors come from the mushrooms of Yue and Lu." By the Ming Dynasty, shiitake had become a renowned "Longevity Vegetable" in the imperial court. Legend has it that when the Ming Dynasty established its capital in Jinling (present-day Nanjing), the region suffered a severe drought. Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang prayed for rain and led the court in a vegetarian fast for months, leaving him with poor appetite. At this time, his military strategist Liu Bowen returned to Nanjing from Longquan County in Zhejiang and specially prepared a dish called "Braised Shiitake" using the famous shiitake mushrooms from his hometown. He soaked the mushrooms, seasoned them, and served the delicious dish to Zhu Yuanzhang. Before even taking a bite, the emperor was greeted by an enticing aroma. Upon tasting, he found the dish richly fragrant, tender, and exceptionally delicious, repeatedly praising it as an uncommon delicacy. He then asked Liu Bowen, "Why is this dish so flavorful, and where does this ingredient come from?" Liu Bowen explained the unique qualities of Longquan shiitake mushrooms and shared the ancient tale from Qingyuan, Zhejiang, about a girl named Xianggu who survived on shiitake mushrooms during hardship. The legend tells of a girl named Xianggu who fled to the mountains to escape persecution by a greedy landlord. She fainted from hunger but woke up and ate the wild shiitake mushrooms growing there. Not only did she regain her health, but she later lived to be over 100 years old. From then on, Zhu Yuanzhang frequently enjoyed the dish in the palace and even named it the "Longevity Vegetable." During the Qing Dynasty, it was also served as a treasured dish in the imperial kitchen. In the "Manchu-Han Imperial Feast" of the Qianlong era, dishes such as "Mushroom Duck" and "Stir-fried Shiitake" appeared, though their preparation methods and ingredients had evolved, often combining shiitake with bamboo shoots or poultry and meat.