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

Wood ear has a delicious taste, can be prepared as a vegetarian or meat dish, 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 "feng-wu" (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 rotting wood of more than 120 species of broadleaf trees such as oak, poplar, banyan and pagoda tree (Sophora japonica), either singly or in clusters. Artificial cultivation is mainly based on linden wood logs and bag substrate; artificial cultivation uses linden wood and bags as the substrate, and it grows in greater amounts in damp areas.

2. Is wood ear a "feng-wu" (trigger food)?

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

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

Black wood ear will produce toxic substances if soaked for a long time. The reason lies in the soaking process; black wood ear should not be soaked too long, as prolonged soaking leads to the multiplication of a large amount of bacteria. At this point, eating this black 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 trigger 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. If the soaking time is relatively long, the water should be changed several times during that period. 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 will produce toxins if soaked for a long time, so how long until it becomes toxic? You should know that different soaking methods require different times.

Generally, if wood ear is soaked for more than 8 hours, the bacteria it contains will already be far more than 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 also very convenient to soak. Under normal circumstances, soaking in room-temperature water takes at most 1 hour to complete. Of course, if you forget about it while soaking and only remember to eat it a few days later, that is extremely unfavorable to health, and it is best not to eat it, to avoid poisoning. Right now, during the high-temperature days of summer, wood ear deteriorates 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, and toxins are very likely to be produced.

To better soak black wood ear, take a preservation 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; after 3-5 minutes this way, the wood ear will be ready. When soaking, you can also pour in some starch, which during washing can help clean off the dirt on the wood ear. If it is summer, this time should be shortened further, because summer is favorable to the reproduction of bacteria and the production of toxins.

4. What symptoms appear after eating wood ear that has been soaked 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 occurs, you must seek medical treatment promptly, as you should know that severe cases may cause organ failure and threaten life safety.