Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is a large, feathery mushroom that grows in overlapping clusters at the base of oak and maple trees in temperate forests of Japan, China, and northeastern North America. Its Japanese name means "dancing mushroom" — legend has it that those who found it danced for joy at its rarity and medicinal value. Maitake is highly prized both as a culinary delicacy and as a medicinal mushroom, particularly for its potent immune-activating polysaccharides and its remarkable effects on blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic health.