Where is the origin of silver ear fungus? A guide to the main producing regions

Silver ear fungus is a good skin-moistening food that can be taken over the long term. Also known as white wood ear, snow ear, silver ear fungus seed and so on, it is the fruiting body of the fungus Tremella fuciformis in the family Tremellaceae, order Tremellales, and enjoys the reputation of "crown of fungi". The fruiting body is pure white to milky white, 5 to 10 cm in diameter, soft and white, semi-transparent and elastic. Let us take a look below at where silver ear fungus comes from!

Where is the origin of silver ear fungus?

Silver ear fungus is a specialty of China. Wild silver ear fungus is mainly distributed in China's Sichuan Province, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Jiangsu Province, Jiangxi Province, Anhui Province, Taiwan Province, Hubei Province, Hainan Province, Hunan Province, Guangdong Province, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Tibet and other regions. Wild silver ear fungus is scarce in quantity and was a rare and precious tonic in ancient times, but since the founding of New China, the success of artificial cultivation techniques for Gutian silver ear fungus has brought it into countless households, making it a fine delicacy that everyone can taste.

The growing environment of silver ear fungus

1. Temperature: Temperature is an important factor in the growth and development of silver ear fungus. Silver ear fungus is a mesophilic fungus, and its mycelium can grow at 16 to 30°C, among which it grows normally at 20 to 28°C and grows best at 23 to 25°C; below 20°C or above 28°C the mycelium is weak. The temperature for fruiting body differentiation is between 16 and 28°C; below 16°C growth is slow, and above 28°C differentiation is poor. The most ideal temperature should be 22 to 25°C.

2. Humidity: Only under suitable moisture conditions can the mycelium of silver ear fungus colonize and grow vigorously. The mycelium is thick and short, forming bundles, and the fruiting body differentiates normally. In an overly wet environment, the mycelium grows weak, thin and sparse, and the fruiting body differentiates poorly or gelatinizes into clumps. Therefore, appropriate water should be given according to the different humidity requirements of silver ear fungus at each growth stage. Under overly wet conditions, silver ear fungus does not easily germinate into mycelium but instead appears in the form of budding.

3. Light: Strong direct light is unfavorable to the germination of silver ear fungus mycelium and the differentiation of the fruiting body, while scattered light can promote spore germination and fruiting body differentiation. Different light conditions have a clear relationship with the color of the silver ear fungus fruiting body; under dim light the ear is yellow and fruiting body differentiation is slow, while with appropriate scattered light the silver ear fungus is white and its quality is also excellent.

4. Acidity and alkalinity: Silver ear fungus is a weakly acidic fungus, and the pH value during cultivation should be between 5.2 and 5.8. Too much acid or too much alkali will have a certain effect on silver ear fungus.

The health benefits of silver ear fungus

1. Liver protection and detoxification: Modern medical research has found that the acidic heteropolysaccharides among the amino acids contained in silver ear fungus can improve human immunity and have the effect of supporting healthy energy and strengthening the constitution. They have a certain alleviating effect on chronic bronchitis and cor pulmonale in the elderly, and can promote the synthesis of protein and nucleic acid in liver cells and improve the liver's detoxification capacity, thereby protecting and safeguarding the liver.

2. Cancer prevention and anti-cancer effects: Silver ear fungus syrup can enhance the phagocytic capacity of macrophages and improve the body's protective ability against atomic radiation damage. It is also a good medicine for people to prevent and fight cancer.

3. Skin care and beauty: Silver ear fungus contains an arabic gum-like substance that can moisturize the skin and has a good nourishing and moisturizing effect on skin keratin, thereby achieving the purpose of delaying aging. Regular consumption of silver ear fungus can make the skin fair, delicate, soft and elastic. Therefore, silver ear fungus is also a high-grade natural beauty product.

4. Clearing the lungs and nourishing the blood: Silver ear fungus and the black wood ear used in cooking are both plants of the family Auriculariaceae, edible fungi parasitic on shady, damp and decaying tree trunks. Organic silver ear fungus is rich in protein, polysaccharides and vitamins. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that organic silver ear fungus has the effects of clearing the lungs and nourishing the blood, nourishing yin and resolving phlegm.

5. Enhancing immunity: Silver ear fungus can prevent the loss of calcium and is very beneficial to growth and development. Because it is rich in trace elements such as selenium, it can enhance the body's anti-tumor immunity.

6. Clearing heat and strengthening the stomach: Silver ear fungus is also a good tonic medicine, characterized by being nourishing without being greasy or cloying. It has the functions of tonifying the spleen and opening the appetite, replenishing qi and clearing the intestines, calming the nerves and strengthening the stomach, nourishing the brain, nourishing yin and clearing heat, and moistening dryness. It is a good tonic for patients with yin deficiency and hyperactive fire who cannot take warm and hot tonics such as ginseng and deer antler.

7. Moistening the intestines and relieving constipation: Silver ear fungus is rich in cellulose, which can promote the peristalsis of the intestinal wall, help digestion, prevent dry stool, and also lubricate the intestinal tract, stimulate defecation, and keep the feces in the intestines moist so as to facilitate bowel movements.

8. Nourishing yin and harmonizing the blood: Silver ear fungus has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, replenishing qi and harmonizing the blood, and nourishing the brain and refreshing the mind. As a precious nourishing food and tonic, it is not only suitable for all the elderly, weak and those recovering from illness to eat, but is also very suitable for patients with high blood pressure, vascular sclerosis and so on.