Magic Mushrooms

Overview

Origin

Growth / Fabrication Challenges

General Pricing

Quality / Sources / Market Forms

Benefits

Dishes

Black Fungus a.k.a Cloud/Wood Ear Fungi

•Auricularia polytricha, syn. Hirneola polytricha

•Asian Judas ear

• 木耳 - pinyin: mù'ěr, lit. "wood ear" or "tree ear"

Auricularia polytricha (syn. Hirneola polytricha) is an edible jelly fungus that belongs to the plant family Auriculaceae. It is gray-brown in color, almost tasteless and often used in Asian cooking. It is usually sold dried and needs to be soaked before use.

Cousin Species

Jew’s ear fungus (Auricula-judae)

Judas is said to have hanged himself on an elder tree, which is host to this fungus.

Snow fungus (Tremella fuciformis) Leans more towards dessert and different holistic purpose.

Origins

China (Cultivated, Foraged)

Merchants- S.E.A, NZ, Hawaii, San Fran.

Regions with moist-deciduous to wet evergreen forests

Growth & Fabrication Wild Vs Farm Dried and packaged Quality depends on drying methodology. Smaller the packaged the more expensive. Hawaii Agriculture Research Center- Log Inoculation, Forest Understory. (Ethical, Repurposing & Reductions of Timber Wastage)

http://www.harc-hspa.com/publications/FOR1.pdf

General Pricing

Online: Amazon- $15-$20 per pound

Import/Wholesale: Alibaba- $12 per pound

Asian Medicinal Halls: $8 -$14 per pound

Quality and Market Forms

Oz, Pounds, (Imports MOQ @ 500Kilo per order)

Quality is dependent on the cultivating process

Where and How it’s being grown VS Foraging

Dehydration process: Sundried, Commercial.

Asian Medicinal Halls

Benefits

Benefits

• Vitamins, minerals and amino acids

• Protein and dietary fiber, but low in calories

• Calcium twice the amount of calcium compared to milk

• 7 times of iron compared to liver

Beliefs, Traditions, Common Practices

Health foods: Removing impurities from our bodies.

Improves blood circulation and lungs

lowering the cholesterol,

reducing and maintaining the triglyceride level,

Preventing blood clotting, coronary heart disease and the growth of tumors.

Beliefs, Traditions, Common Practices

Confinement Month (Chinese Culture)

After pregnancy only

Holistic Health Food

Glass Noodle Salad

Stir-Fried Vegetable

Hot & Sour Soup