As a preliminary study in order to develop new varieties of Hericium species, this study was carried out to investigate the optimal temperature for mycelial growth, to figure out the applicability to sawdust cultivation on Quercus mongolica substrate, and to analyze the antioxidant capacity of ergothioneine and polyphenols in Hericium strains preserved in Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI). In the results of optimal temperature for mycelial growth of eight Hericium erinaceus, it was 20 oC in a strain (KFRI 842), 25 oC in five strains (KFRI 507, 508, 509, 843, 845), and 30 oC in two strains (KFRI 582, 844). Optimal temperature for mycelial growth of H. coralloides (KFRI 713) was 25 oC. Four strains (KFRI 508, 843, 844, 713) out of the total nine Hericium strains showed full mycelium growth within 20 days at the optimal temperature on PDA medium in petri-dish (85 mm in diameter). The other strains have need of more time for full mycelium growth. Mushroom production of H. erinaceus ranged from 215 to 384 g of fresh weight and its dry weight was 7 to 9% of it, whereas that of H. coralloides was 299 g of fresh weight and its dry weight was 10% of it. The contents of ergothioneine and polyphenols of H. erinaceus strains were different by strains and those were in the range of 1.6~3.7 mg/g dw. and 5.9~7.8 mg/g dw., respectively. On the other hand, those of H. coraloides were in the range of 1.7 mg/g dw. and 3.9 mg/g dw., respectively. From the results of correlation (R ² = 0.1) between ergothioneine and polyphenols in the strains, it was found that the total contents of them differ by strains but the ratio of the two compounds was not very different in the strains.