Top 5 Most Expensive Mushrooms In The World

Mushrooms have been used for thousands of years ago since ancient times for various purposes. Hippocrates even mentioned the medicinal value of mushrooms in his writings. 

It is seen as a natural plant that coincidentally grows on the ground and it has been planted since 1652. In the beginning, mushrooms were not seen as food and instead used to compress things and as a natural remedy all over the world.

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There are many species of mushrooms out in the wild that can be eaten and the good part is you do not even have to pay for it. There are however special types of mushrooms that are considered rare and expensive that most collectors are dying to find.

Here we would like to share with you the top 5 most expensive mushrooms in the world that you can have a taste of.

5. Morels ($500 Per Kg)

Some supermarkets across the globe will sell Morel in its dry form reaching the price of $500 per kg making it the 5th most expensive mushroom in the world. Dried Morels are more expensive as it is lighter and fresh morels can be obtained for a cheaper price of less than $100 per kg.

What made it so unique is that these mushrooms only grow in certain seasons. In the US, you can expect to find Morels somewhere between March and May. Despite it being available in other countries, you can find it abundantly in the Midwest like North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

But then again only an experienced hunter can ever find these Morels hiding in certain spots.

4. Black Truffles ($1850 Per Kg)

Black truffles are crucial components in high-end restaurants and are also incorporated in some of the most costly ice creams in the world. It is regarded as one of the most expensive delicacies that you can try.

Similar to Morels, only by hunting with experienced dogs will you actually get to these truffles that are deep in the ground. It can be found across various regions of the West and these highly prized mushroom can set you back at roughly $1850 per kg.

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With such a great demand, the Tuber Melanosporum variety or sometimes referred to as the French Black Perigord will be the most desired black truffles out there. These Black truffle mushrooms typically grow around the base of mature oak trees.

3. Matsutake ($3,300 Per Kg)

A special mushroom found in Japan will be the Matsutake which traditionally grows to mark the start of fall. For most Japanese, it is one of their favorite dish to enjoy due to its fruity and spicy aroma.

With an average price of $3,300 per kg, we can definitely see how special it is to the Japanese. However, in recent years, many red pine trees that provide protection to the Matsutake have died due to infestation.

The Matsutake mushroom was even listed as an endangered species by the International Union For Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN). Since there has yet to be a method to plant this mushroom, the Matsutake will only be more expensive in the coming future.

2. European White Truffle ($7,920 Per Kg)

The European White Truffle will be the second most expensive mushroom in the world and despite many people have argued about truffle not being a mushroom, it is still somewhat a type of fungus similar to mushrooms.

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European truffles can be obtained by using trained dogs or even sometimes female pigs. Many hunters will hunt in places like Italy and France for this precious mushroom and since it is super rare, the black market for the European White Truffle has thrived.

There have also been reports of truffles being stolen from restaurants and sniffing truffle dogs being sold on the black market.

1. Caterpillar Fungus ($138,600 Per Kg)

Perhaps one of the most exotic mushrooms on this list will be the caterpillar fungus or as the locals call it Yartsa Gunbu. What's unique is that this mushroom grows on living caterpillars as the fungus eats away the host.

In the early spring season, this fungus will grow upright from a dead caterpillar spiking on the ground. It is among the favorites in the Himalayas as it is considered very therapeutic. However, harvesting this mushroom has been proven quite difficult as it only grows at the side of hills between 3,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level.

There has been no method to grow this mushroom as it only occurs naturally and the best quality Yartsa Gunbu can sell for a whopping $138,600 per kg on the market. This makes caterpillar fungus the most expensive mushroom in the world.

Source:

• Iluminasi

Also read: What Is Caterpillar fungus And Its Benefits?