Mushrooms are low in fat, salt, and cholesterol, making them a healthy snack option. Vitamins and minerals also make them a nutritious choice. You’re still standing there, aren’t you? When done correctly, they can be delectable.
In this article, we will learn about the 10 most expensive mushrooms that cost as much as $50,000 (£80,500 per kilogram), or $2,000 per ounce. I’m sure you’re beginning to get curious.
Let’s dive in!
What Are Mushrooms?
According to Wikipedia, Toadstools and mushrooms are the fungus’s fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies. They are usually found above ground, on soil, or in their food source, but they can also be found in the air.
The white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, is the standard for the name “mushroom.” This means that the word “mushroom” is most often used to refer to fungi that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae, single lamella) on the underside of the cap. Mushroom also refers to a lot of other gilled fungi, with or without stems.
The term is used to refer to the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota. These gills make tiny spores that help the fungus spread across the ground or the surface of its host.
Forms that don’t follow the standard morphology usually have more specific names like a puffball, a stinkhorn, or a morel, and gilled mushrooms are often called “agarics” because they look like Agaricus or belong to the order Agaricales. The term “mushroom” can also be used to refer to the whole fungus when it is grown, the thallus (called a mycelium) of the species that produce the fruiting bodies called mushrooms, or the whole species itself.
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What Are The Types Of Mushrooms?
Below are the most common types of mushrooms out there, some of which have characteristics similar to the characteristics found in some of the most expensive mushrooms.
1. Portobello Mushrooms
The portobello is the oldest of the three agaricus bisporus species. Once only imported from Italy, these plants now thrive across the country. If you’re looking for an easy way to get more protein into your diet, try substituting them for meat in everything from a sandwich to a pizza sauce or an omelette.
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2. Maitake Mushroom
It is also known as “hen-of-the-woods,” “sheep’s ear,” and “ram’s ear” because of its resemblance to a ram’s head. The maitake is a mushroom that typically grows at the base of oak trees and has been used in Japanese and Chinese cuisine for millennia. They make a substantial meat substitute in dishes like pizza or ramen.
3. Morel Mushrooms
Wild morchela, with its honeycomb texture, is particularly popular in French cuisine. Even people who think they don’t like mushrooms enjoy this type of mushroom since it has a harder (less slimy) texture and a nutty flavor.
4. Hedgehog Mushroom
The hydnum repandum is also known as the “sweet tooth,” and it’s easily identifiable thanks to its yellow or orange cap, toothy underside, and fruity odor. After washing, sauté them in butter for a delicious treat.
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5. Cremini Mushrooms
Cremini mushrooms are simply an older variation of the button mushroom, which is another variety of the agaricus bisporus. Because of their age, they’ve become a little browner and a little firmer, which makes them ideal for soup and stew recipes.
Benefits of Mushrooms
When it comes to choosing nutrient-rich ingredients for your meals, plain old white-colored food — think white bread, white rice, and white pasta — don’t have the healthiest rep. But there is a white-colored treat that you should pile on your plate: mushrooms! Even the most expensive mushrooms have health benefits.
Below are the benefits of mushrooms;
1. A lot of people say that mushrooms can help you stay young.
A 2017 Penn State study found that mushrooms have a lot of two antioxidants, ergothioneine, and glutathione. This is because when these antioxidants are together, they work even harder to protect your body from the physical stress that causes the visible signs of aging to show up (translation: wrinkles).
2. Mushrooms, on the other hand, can help keep your brain from getting old.
Some foods rich in polyphenols, like mushrooms, coffee, cocoa, and red wine, may help older people keep their minds sharp. This is according to a long-term study in Spain that was published in 2021. They also found that the antioxidants ergothioneine and glutathione could help prevent Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
They say that if you eat at least five-button mushrooms a day, you will be less likely to get a brain disease in the future. They should be cooked in a way that keeps their nutritional value as long as possible, such as by heating them in the microwave or grilling.
3. Mushrooms can make you feel better about your mood.
A group of Penn State researchers looked into mushrooms even more in 2021. They found that in nearly 26,000 people whose depression risk was low, those who regularly ate mushrooms had a lower risk of getting it. ERGOthioneine may be to blame again, the authors say. This may be because it lowers the risk of oxidative stress, which in turn helps to lessen depression symptoms, they say. They say that eating button mushrooms, which are high in potassium, may help with anxiety.
4. Mushrooms may help you remember more.
Researchers at the National University of Singapore found that if you eat two 3/4 cup servings of cooked mushrooms a week, you may be less likely to have mild cognitive decline.
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5. They can help your heart health.
mushrooms make recipes taste better when they are used in place of salt because they have glutamate ribonucleotides, which make them taste good. You don’t have to worry about your blood pressure or heart disease risk because those compounds give food a savory, umami taste. A whole cup of mushrooms has only 5 mg of sodium in it! Mushrooms can also be a great, healthy replacement for red meat in any dish, cutting calories, fat, and cholesterol out of the equation.
10 Most Expensive Mushrooms In The World
The most expensive mushrooms in the world did not just earn that title because they are rare or because they are specially prepared. Most of them are tasty and serve a lot of health benefits.
Below are the world,s most expensive mushrooms;
1. The yartsa gunbu mushroom (Cordyceps sinensis)
The cost per pound is $50,000 (£80,500 per kilogram), or $2,000 per ounce. Caterpillar fungus is another name for this mushroom, and it’s a fitting one. Caterpillars of a specific species get infected by it. The fungus infects and kills the caterpillar before sprouting from its corpse.
These little mushroom fungi are quite difficult to find in the wild, as you might expect. Before they die, caterpillars usually burrow a few inches into the ground. This type of mushroom has never been grown in a controlled setting. Cordyceps mushrooms, often known as yartsa gunbu, are thought to have aphrodisiac properties. It’s also said to have other therapeutic properties. As a result of their scarcity and high price, many people eat them as a status symbol.
2. European White Truffles
According to the harvest that year, prices might range from $1,000 to $4,000 per pound (£1600 to £6445 per kilogram). When compared to other truffle kinds, white truffles are the rarest and most costly. Despite the fact that white truffles are rather widespread throughout Europe, they are infamously difficult to come across.
A common tactic used by truffle hunters to locate these pricey fungi is to use trained truffle dogs or pigs. White truffles have yet to be successfully farmed by a grower, according to records. The price has remained quite high as a result.
3. Matsutake Mushrooms
$1,000 to $2,000 per pound (£1600 to £3200 per kilogram) is the going rate. Mushrooms known as Matsutake originate in Japan. They have shaggy brown tops and resemble shiitake mushrooms in appearance. They do, however, have longer stems. Spicy aromas and flavors can be found in this fungus from Japan. When it comes to matsutake mushrooms, there is a wide range of quality available.
At the beginning of the harvest season, the most expensive mushrooms are those that are of the highest quality. However, you may be able to find them for as little as $2 per pound in Japan at the end of the season.
4. Black Truffles
The cost is $800 per pound (£1290 per kilogram). The most well-known variety of truffle is the black truffle. Despite being less expensive than white truffles, they are nonetheless quite pricey. To find black truffles, hunters typically use pigs or dogs, as they do with white ones. There has been some modest success in growing black truffles by American and Australian mushroom producers. Due to the fact that these fungi grow in the base of large oak trees, the process is time-consuming and costly.
Black truffles are also among the most expensive mushrooms to cultivate. High-end restaurant chefs are the primary buyers of black truffles. These truffles are so sought after that there is even a “black market.” Many goods marketed as “black truffle oil” are in fact created from synthetic chemicals, not fungi as is commonly believed.
5. Chanterelles
The dried product costs $200 per pound (about £320 per kilogram). Chanterelles are second only to morels in popularity among serious mushroom hunters. It’s easy to tell these golden-yellow mushrooms apart from others because they don’t have many resemblances. Cooking is necessary since it can be harmful if eaten uncooked. After a rainstorm, they’re more likely to show up on hot, humid days. Similar to the priciest kind of mush.
6. Porcini Mushrooms
This is the sixth most expensive mushroom in the world. $50 to $70 a pound (£80 to 112 per kilogram). European hardwood forests harbor the porcini or king bolete mushroom. They are most common in Italy, but can also be found in North America. Porcini mushrooms have enormous heads and thick stalks. Porcinis, like other pricey mushrooms, are hard to grow. So they are gathered from the wild in season and dried to be sold all over the world.
7. Morels
Fresh, it costs between $30 and $90 (£21 and £65) per pound; dried, it can cost up to $250 (£180) per pound. Morels are highly sought after by mushroom hunters. Once a mushroom hunter finds a morel-rich location, they tend to keep it hidden from everyone else. Morels will re-grow in the same spot year after year. Morels are difficult to grow and only available in the wild for a few months each year. So they tend to be expensive. Consumers pay top dollar for these mushrooms.
8. Shiitake Mushrooms
$11-$24/kg, fresh Shiitakes have long been a beloved mushroom in many Asian countries. They are currently very popular in the West. These firm, meaty mushrooms are fantastic as a meat substitute in vegetarian cooking. Fresh shiitake mushrooms are now widely available. They are also available dried in quantity. Shiitake mushrooms can easily grow indoors or outdoors on logs. So they’re cheaper than most on this list.
9. Lion’s Mane
Lion’s mane is a unique-looking fungus with long white spines. Miniature mop, hair clump, or white hedgehog. Lion’s mane is claimed to taste like lobster or crab meat. Historically, wild lion’s mane was gathered. It’s now easy to grow in regulated conditions. Lion’s mane is used medicinally as well as for food. While fresh lion’s mane sells for around $10 per pound, dried and powdered lion’s mane can sell for much more.
10. Oyster Mushrooms
These are the second most common mushroom in North America and Europe, priced from $5 to $15 per pound (£8 to £24 per kilogram). Only the agaricus bisporus mushroom surpasses them in popularity (which includes button mushrooms, cremini and portobello). It is one of the easiest mushrooms to grow at home. They are currently grown commercially and from kits on your kitchen counter. As a result of their ease of cultivation, these mushrooms are also the cheapest on the list of most expensive mushrooms.
Conclusion
Also, mushrooms come in a variety of textures and flavors, from rich, meaty portobellos to earthy hen-of-the-woods to delicate chanterelles. While certain mushrooms are more nutritious than others, you may reap the benefits by choosing whatever is available at your local grocery store, fits within your budget, and works best with the recipe you’re cooking.
FAQs On Most Expensive Mushrooms In The World
The most expensive mushrooms in the world are rare and hard to cultivate. They are sensitive and not easy to mass-produce, therefore driving prices up for consumers.
Some of the mushrooms considered best for human health include Chaga, lion’s mane, reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, cordyceps, and maitake.
Lion’s Mane mushroom is the best for the human brain.
Raw mushrooms are largely indigestible because of their tough cell walls, mainly composed of chitin.
Although mushrooms are classified as vegetables, technically they are not plants but part of the kingdom called fungi.
References
- grocycle.com – Top 12 Most Expensive Mushrooms in the World
- en.wikipedia.org – Mushroom
- goodhousekeeping.com – 7 Surprising Mushroom Health Benefits for Your Skin, Brain and Bones
- countryliving.com – 12 of the Most Common Types of Mushrooms
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