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Mushrooms are not plants, but representatives of a separate biological kingdom, some of which have long been used in medicine, cooking, because they have many useful properties. They contain protein compounds necessary for a person, about 18 different amino acids. There are approximately 100 g of protein in 4 g of mushrooms. They are also rich in vitamins: A, groups B, PP, D, E, as well as trace elements: potassium, zinc, calcium, etc. They contain beta-glucans, which support the immune system and have anti-cancer effects.
All edible species are beneficial to humans, but some of them are considered delicacies. The most expensive mushrooms in the world, with unique properties, cost thousands of dollars. Why they are so valuable, we will tell in our article.
10 Underbird
These are dull, brown shades of mushrooms that can be found in deciduous forests, most often in birch forests. There are many varieties of this mushroom, and all of them are considered edible, but differ slightly from each other in taste.
It has white flesh, young mushrooms are tender and dense inside, but then their flesh becomes loose. Underbird contains a lot of easily digestible carbohydrates and proteins, vitamins, fiber, a complete set of amino acids necessary for a person.
By its nutritional qualities, it resembles meat. The mushroom contains vitamins C, B1, B2, PP, E, a lot of potassium, manganese and calcium. Dietary fiber, getting into the stomach, cleanses it, collects all harmful particles.
Mushroom prices depend on the place of collection, on weather conditions (there are few of them in dry times), on sizes, and may vary from 200 rubles to 700 per 1 kg.
9. Porcini
Another common name is boletus. He has a convex hat with a diameter of 7 to 30 cm, its color is from red-brown to almost white. The pulp is juicy-fleshy, strong, in young mushrooms it is white, does not change color after cutting. The leg is massive, thick (up to 7 cm), 8 to 25 cm high. It grows in deciduous and coniferous forests, most often next to pines, spruces, birch and oak, where the age of the trees is more than 50 years.
Porcini – one of the best in taste, therefore it is called noble, king. It cannot be said that it is the most nutritious or healthy, because. its composition is not particularly different from the others. But it is very tasty, stimulates digestion, it contains substances that have antitumor properties.
Porcini mushrooms are pickled, dried, frozen. Prices may vary depending on the harvesting method. from 600 to 3 thousand rubles kg.
8. Shiitake (Edible Lentinula)
It is called not only Shiitake or Lentinula ediblebut Japanese forest mushroom. It can be found on dead hardwoods. The mushroom, or rather its caps, are used in Korean, Chinese and Japanese cuisines, most often in dried form, but it is soaked before use.
The medicinal properties of Shiitake have been known since the Ming Dynasty, but it is still considered effective in the treatment of impotence, obesity, and high blood cholesterol. Mycelium extract helps cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Mushrooms have long been grown all over the world, at the beginning of the 21st century they were produced up to 800 thousand tons per year. Therefore, they are not so expensive from 1700 rubles per kilogram of dried mushrooms.
7. red reishi
It is called Polypore lacquered, but in China and Korea it is known as “ling chih“. This can be translated as “immortality mushroom“. In Japan it is calledflights“, Which means”spiritual power mushroom».
It grows at the base of weakened or dead trees and is ubiquitous. His hat is reddish in color, but it can also be brown-violet.
Its value is medicinal properties. red reishi more than 2 thousand years used in medicine. Recent studies have shown that the biologically active substances contained in this fungus have antiviral, antitumor, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory effects, stimulates the immune system.
A kilogram of this mushroom is worth about 2000 rubles or more.
6. Maitake (Curly Griffola)
This mushroom is called differently: Maitake, Grifol curly, ram, dancing mushroom. It is considered a rare species, listed in the Red Book of Russia.
You can find it from the end of June to the end of September, it grows in broad-leaved forests, most often found at the base of old oaks, occasionally – maples, beeches and chestnuts. It grows very quickly, fruiting bodies reach a diameter of up to 80 cm, weigh up to 10 kg. They consist of thin caps with a diameter of 0,5 to 5 cm.
It is edible and has a pleasant nutty flavor. In addition, the mushroom is very useful, has bactericidal properties, eating it helps to cope with inflammation and pain. 50 g of this mushroom costs about 400 rubles, i.e. 1 kg about 8 thousand rubles.
5. Matsutake (Shoeed Row)
Translated from Japanese “Matsutake” means “pine mushroom”, because it has a specific aroma, reminiscent of the smell of this tree. In Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisine, it is highly valued for its exquisite taste. It has a brown cap, white flesh, smells like cinnamon.
It hides under the foliage of trees, at the very foot, on dry and infertile soil. Most often it can be found in dense-flowered pine, in fir, in ordinary pine. Matsutake bears fruit profusely, but it is very difficult to find it, because. he hides under a layer of foliage. Therefore, it is very expensive.
Over the past 50 years, due to the pine nematode, the number of Japanese mushrooms has decreased, therefore, no more than 1 ton per year is harvested in this country, and the price for 1 kg of mushrooms can reach up to 2 thousand dollars.
It is grown in China and Korea, such Matsutake are cheaper, fresh mushroom – from 50 to 120 dollars kg. They say that Chinese mushrooms cannot be compared with wild Japanese mushrooms, although they are not bad either.
4. summer truffle
summer truffle also called black truffle, Russian. It is, as the name implies, black in color, of different shades, from brown to lilac, covered with black warts, becoming whitish and brown with age.
The taste is sweetish, reminiscent of a nut. The fungus has a strong smell, which is similar to the smell of algae. It occurs under the roots of beech, birch, oak, hornbeam, fruiting bodies are underground.
Considered a delicacy, but less valuable than other types of truffles. Worth about 500 – 600 euros per kilogram, if grown in the wild, even higher.
3. Black truffle
Black truffle also called french. It is reddish in color, and later becomes jet black, turning reddish when pressed.
The black truffle has firm flesh. It is initially light, grayish or pinkish with a marble pattern, but then becomes dark. Smells strong. The taste is pleasant, but slightly bitter. It is found next to oaks, at a depth of several cm to half a meter.
Its cost – from 1 thousand dollars per kg.
2. White truffle
In shape, it is somewhat similar to a potato tuber, smooth, first whitish, then yellowish-brown. White truffle smells strongly, the taste is nutty. One of the most expensive delicacy mushrooms, but in Spain, France, Italy it is poisonous. Proper heat treatment is necessary so that it does not harm.
Will have to give from 7 to 9 thousand dollars per kg. But this is not the limit. In 2007, Stanley Ho, an American billionaire, paid $500 for a 330 g truffle. One customer, who did not want to reveal his identity, bought a 79-gram mushroom for 750 euros at the 100th White Truffle Festival in Alba.
1. Yarsagumba (Chinese Cordyceps)
Yarsagumba or Chinese cordyceps is from 50 to 120 thousand dollars per kg. But this is not an accident, because. it is not easy to collect so many mushrooms. It grows in the mountains of Tibet, at an altitude of 4 km and above.
It is a parasitic fungus that grows in the bodies of caterpillars of the butterfly Hepialus armoricanus by eating its living host. The caterpillars gradually die, and a fungus sprouts from her body. It is collected by the inhabitants of Nepal and India.
It is used in Tibetan medicine, has healing properties. It is said to act as a powerful aphrodisiac.