When are wild mushrooms from Yunnan, China generally on the market, and how much do they cost per jin?
Yunnan's complex topography and unique natural conditions give rise to an abundance of wild edible mushroom resources. But if you want to eat freshly harvested Yunnan wild mushrooms, you first need to know when they are generally available and how much they cost per jin on the market. Yunnan wild mushrooms generally depend on the climate; in early years they appear as early as May, and in late years they come onto the market in June or July. But the large-scale supply generally comes around the Torch Festival, which is around the 24th day of the sixth lunar month.
Introduction to Yunnan Wild Mushrooms
Yunnan wild edible mushrooms grow in the mountain forests and are a natural green food. They are rich in various vitamins, high-quality protein and other components beneficial to the human body, are highly nutritious and have a unique flavor, and some edible mushrooms also have pharmacological effects in treating cancer and various diseases.
Types of Yunnan Wild Mushrooms
There are 35 kinds that we commonly eat, divided by type into termite mushrooms, white scallion mushrooms, porcini, matsutake, ganba mushrooms, green-headed mushrooms, tiger palm mushrooms, morels, lion's mane mushrooms, old man's head mushrooms, truffles, and bamboo fungus.
How Much Do Wild Mushrooms Cost per Jin on the Market
Wild mushrooms come in frozen, dried and fresh wild mushroom forms, so the prices all differ. The table below shows some Yunnan wild mushroom prices as of July 11, 2017.
Table 1: Fresh Wild Mushrooms
| Product Name | Unit | Wholesale Price | Remarks |
| Fresh Matsutake | yuan/kg | 260 | 2-4cm , selected goods |
| 460 | 3-5cm, selected goods | ||
| 650 | 5-7cm, selected goods | ||
| 750 | 7-9cm , selected goods | ||
| 830 | 9-12cm, selected goods | ||
| Wild Morel | yuan/kg | Temporarily out of stock | Grade A goods |
| Cultivated Morel | yuan/kg | Temporarily out of stock | Selected goods |
| Wild Termite Mushroom | yuan/kg | 380, 450 | The 380 one is ordinary goods, the 450 one is premium |
| Black-skinned Termite Mushroom | yuan/kg | 70 | Premium |
Table 2: Dried Wild Mushrooms
| Name | Unit | Purchase Price | Remarks |
| Wild Morel | yuan/kg | 1750, 1980 | The 1750 one is 2-3cm small morels with fully trimmed stems, the 1980 one is 3-5cm, fully trimmed stems, spring morels |
| Cultivated Morel | yuan/kg | 1350, 1450 | The 1350 one is small, the 1450 one is large with fully trimmed stems |
| Morel Stems | yuan/kg | 150 | Pure wild morel stems, mud feet trimmed, very good for flavoring soup and stewing soup, especially fragrant, 13 kg per case |
| Black Truffle (Truffle) | yuan/kg | 550, 1300 | The 550 one is 2cm small slices, the 1300 one is 3-5cm core-extracted slices |
| Brown Truffle (Truffle) | yuan/kg | 750, 1050 | The 750 one is 2-3cm brown slices, the 1050 one is 3-5cm brown core-extracted slices |
Table 3: Frozen Wild Mushrooms
| Product Name | Unit | Wholesale Price | Remarks |
| Morel | yuan/kg | 160 175 | The 175 one is wild premium goods, export grade |
| Termite Mushroom | yuan/kg | 150 | The 150 one is Grade A goods, no ice added |
| Termite Mushroom Slices | yuan/kg | 90 | Termite mushrooms sliced and frozen |
| Matsutake | yuan/kg | 128 | Grade A goods, no ice added, 3-5cm long , good color |
| 155 | Grade A goods, no ice added, 5-7cm long, good color | ||
| 165 | Grade A goods, no ice added, 7-9cm long, good color | ||
| Truffle (Truffle) | yuan/kg | 190 | Brown, 2-3cm diameter, whole ones |
| 260 | Brown, 3-5cm diameter, whole ones | ||
| 380 | Brown, 5-7cm diameter, whole ones | ||
| 310 | Black, 2-3cm diameter, whole ones, supply tight | ||
| 365 | Black, 3-5cm diameter, whole ones, supply tight | ||
| 560 | Black, 5-7cm diameter, whole ones, supply tight |
Appendix: Methods for Identifying Poisonous Wild Mushrooms
Generally speaking, poisonous mushrooms have relatively bright colors and have warts; the caps of poisonous mushrooms have bumps, and some have red spots, gill supports or gill cracks; some mushrooms have a volva or an annulus, and ordinary poisonous mushrooms ooze juice when broken off and have a pungent smell. Poisonous mushrooms can also be identified from the following aspects:
1. Observe the appearance. Generally, poisonous mushrooms are brighter in color than edible mushrooms, with the caps mostly showing red-purple, yellow or variegated spots, and the stems having a ring and a volva.
2. Smell the odor. Poisonous mushrooms often have a pungent, foul or bitter taste, while edible mushrooms have the inherent fragrance of mushrooms with no off odor.
3. Color change test. Rub the cap with the white part of a scallion; if the white part turns blue-brown, it proves it is poisonous, otherwise it is non-toxic. After being cooked, poisonous mushrooms often turn black when they meet silverware, and turn blue or brown when they meet minced garlic.
4. Milk test. Sprinkle a small amount of fresh milk on the surface of the mushroom; if the milk curdles on its surface, it may be poisonous.