"Wood ear fungus: What trees does it grow on? Is it a "fafu" (trigger food)? How long can it be soaked before it becomes toxic? What symptoms appear after eating it?

Wood ear is delicious in taste, can be eaten vegetarian or with meat, and is rich in nutrients. Wood ear is sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, and has many medicinal benefits. So, what trees does wood ear grow on? Is it a "fafu" (trigger food)? How long can it be soaked before it becomes toxic? What symptoms appear after eating it?

1. What trees does wood ear grow on?

Wood ear parasitizes on damp, shady, decaying tree trunks, growing on the rotten wood of more than 120 species of broadleaf trees such as oak, poplar, banyan and pagoda tree (Sophora japonica), either singly or in groups. Artificial cultivation is mainly based on linden wood (basswood) and bag-cultivated substrate; artificial cultivation uses linden wood and bags as the substrate, and it grows more abundantly in damp areas.

2. Is wood ear a "fafu" (trigger food)?

Wood ear is considered a "fafu" (trigger food); it belongs to the wind-stirring trigger foods: these mostly have lifting, qi-dispersing and fiery properties, and can cause pathogenic toxins to spread through the body, such as eggplant, wood ear, pig head meat, eggs and mushrooms. People with conditions such as urticaria, eczema, stroke or diarrhea should not eat it.

3. How long can it be soaked before it becomes toxic?

Black wood ear produces toxic substances after being soaked for a long time. The reason lies in the soaking process; black wood ear should not be soaked for too long, because prolonged soaking leads to the multiplication of large amounts of bacteria, and by then eating this wood ear means it has already spoiled and deteriorated, which will naturally cause food poisoning. After consumption, mild cases involve vomiting and diarrhea, while severe cases can lead to multiple organ failure. So when people eat black wood ear, they should soak only as much as they will eat, not soak a large amount at once, and if the soaking time is relatively long, they should change the water several times in between. After eating black wood ear, if there is any discomfort, medical attention should be sought promptly, and one should not take chances.

★ How long can black wood ear be soaked before it becomes toxic

Wood ear produces toxins after being soaked for a long time, so how long until it becomes toxic? You should know that different soaking methods require different amounts of time.

Generally, when wood ear has been soaked for more than 8 hours, the bacteria it contains already far exceed the original number of bacteria, and at this point you should consider avoiding eating this wood ear.

In fact, although the wood ear commonly eaten at home is dried, it is very convenient to rehydrate. Under normal circumstances, soaking in room-temperature water takes at most 1 hour, though of course, if you forget while soaking and only remember to eat it a few days later, that is extremely harmful to your health, and it is best not to eat it to avoid poisoning. Right now, during the high-temperature summer days, wood ear spoils very quickly; when the soaking time exceeds 8 hours, the bacteria caused by spoilage will rise to more than ten times or even dozens of times the original amount, and toxins are very likely to form.

To better rehydrate black wood ear, take a fresh-keeping box, put an appropriate amount of black wood ear in it, then pour in an appropriate amount of warm boiled water, cover and seal it, and after 3-5 minutes the wood ear will be ready. During soaking you can also pour in some starch, which helps wash away dirt on the wood ear when cleaning. If it is summer, this time should be shortened further, because summer favors the reproduction of bacteria and the production of toxins.

4. What symptoms appear after eating wood ear that has been soaked for too long?

If you accidentally eat wood ear that has already been soaked for a long time and your body shows no discomfort such as vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea, there is generally no need to worry too much; on the contrary, if discomfort such as vomiting or diarrhea does appear, you must seek medical attention promptly for treatment, because you should know that severe cases can cause organ failure and threaten life.