"Horse pathogen" at a price of 120 thousand euros

In the world of gourmets and connoisseurs of gourmet products, two mushrooms occupy a special place due to their rarity and high cost – the white truffle and the aphrodisiac – cordyceps.

The white truffle, often called the “king of mushrooms”, is famous for its unique aroma and taste, which enriches any dish, turning them into culinary masterpieces. This mushroom grows not only in certain regions of Italy, France and Bulgaria, but also in northern Greece. The delicacy is obtained with the help of specially trained dogs or pigs.

Cordyceps, on the other hand, is known as a mushroom with medicinal properties, grows in the highlands of Tibet and is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Its harvesting is a labor-intensive process, which is what makes it so valuable in the market. These two mushrooms not only delight gourmets around the world, but also embody the cultural and culinary heritage of their regions.

Let's take a closer look at each of these most expensive mushrooms. It is difficult to accurately name the cost, since just as precious metals, currencies and oil exchange rates change, so does the cost of the mushroom. The highest price that was recorded for 1 kg of mushrooms is 40,000 euros.

So, white truffle, “king of mushrooms”, became famous and in demand at the instigation of the Italian scoundrel Mr. Giacomo Morrawhich became a real marketing ploy back in the distant 30s of the 20th century. Why did they speak so unflatteringly about him? Yes, very simple! In fact, white truffle smells like… asphalt, acetylene, rotten cheese, garlic and dirty socks. How do you like this?!

In general, the Italian popularized this, excuse me, if I may say so, disgusting. And you were right! Surprisingly, the dish immediately found ardent fans who began to chase the delicacy and order it in restaurants intended for special visitors – connoisseurs of white truffle at an incredible price.

Thus, for a decade, he hired chefs who prepared truffles, inventing more and more delicious dishes. The poor cooks held their noses from the indescribable stench, but continued to cook in order to achieve at least something more or less digestible.
For his part, Giacomo Morra hired famous reporters and journalists to sort of create queues at the restaurant, implicitly saying that this delicacy needed to be chased. In general, it created a stir.
Morra gave white truffles to presidents, the Pope, and prime ministers. And as a result, after the end of World War II, the white truffle ascended to the pedestal.

Now let's talk about the second parasitic mushroom, at a price of 120,000 euros per kg. Cordyceps mushrooms are a group of parasitic fungi that develop and grow on insects and other arthropods. These mushrooms are known for their medicinal properties and have been used for centuries in traditional medicine. In recent years, cordyceps mushrooms have gained popularity as a health supplement in alternative medicine.

Fungi of the genus Cordyceps are a group of fungi belonging to the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. These fungi grow on the larvae of various insects and arthropods such as caterpillars, beetles and spiders. The fungus infects an insect host, and as it grows, it replaces the insect's tissues and eventually grows out of the insect's body.

Cordyceps mushrooms are commonly found in mountainous areas of Asia, especially Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. They have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat a variety of ailments such as chronic fatigue, kidney disease and respiratory infections.

The mushroom was discovered by monks living in Tibet. It seemed strange to the observant clergy when the bulls, having eaten something from the ground, became suddenly excited and chased the heifers. Although in nature, bulls have only a certain “mating” period, since an inseminated cow must bear and give birth to a calf in the spring, by the first grass. And here it is.

Taking a closer look, the monks realized that the bulls were eating some sprouts from the ground that resembled dry sticks, weighing no more than 1 gram. Having picked them, the monks realized that a miracle had happened – a real storehouse of useful substances and a powerful aphrodisiac, which has no equal, fell into their hands. Later, dietary supplements containing this fungus began to be made from the mushroom. an unsightly parasitic mushroom that zombifies its host.

The fungus reproduces by spores. And when they land on an insect, say a caterpillar, they begin to slowly (and unnoticed by the owner) develop in its flesh. The mushroom encourages the caterpillar to eat a lot. And if we compare two individuals – infected with cordyceps and not, we will see that one of them is more well-fed. This is how cordyceps affects the caterpillar. Then, after a certain period of time, the fungus releases certain substances into the insect, which drive it to the surface of the earth (and strictly at an angle of 45 degrees!). And when no more than 10 cm remains to the target, the fungus injects poison into the host caterpillar, killing it. Then, continuing to develop in her body, practically devouring all the flesh, it sprouts to the surface of the earth and, completing the development cycle, reproduces by spores.

The demand for cordyceps is huge. And the states located around Tibet (India, China, Bhutan and Nepal) began to grow it on an industrial scale. For example, 8% of Bhutan's GDP is made up of profits from growing mushrooms. It should be noted here that wild high-mountain cordyceps is no match for grown cordyceps and is a reference plant because it is more effective (bioactive). That is, one that grows at an altitude of 5 km. So it costs 120,000 euros per kg.

By the way, in order to climb into Tibet and get to places where you can find the mushroom (we are talking about Bhutan), you need to obtain written permission from the princess. And her signature will cost you only 300 euros. But don’t be fooled, a successful collector can only come across 10-20 mushrooms in a day. And this is 10-20 grams.

Cordyceps has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Mushrooms are believed to have a number of health benefits, including strengthening the immune system, improving athletic performance (in the form of a currently legal “doping”) and treating respiratory infections. However, it is important to consult a doctor before taking cordyceps mushrooms as they may interact with some medications and may not be suitable for everyone.

Cordyceps mushrooms are generally considered safe to eat when used correctly. In traditional Chinese medicine, cordyceps has been used as a medicinal ingredient for centuries, and in recent years it has gained popularity as a dietary supplement due to its potential health benefits.

However, as with any dietary supplement or natural product, it is important to exercise caution and consult a physician before taking cordyceps supplements, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking medications. Some people may also be allergic to cordyceps or other mushrooms and experience allergic reactions when exposed to them.

It is also important to ensure that you buy high-quality cordyceps supplements from a reliable source, as some products on the market may be contaminated or mislabeled. By taking appropriate precautions and using cordyceps supplements as directed, you can enjoy their potential health benefits with minimal risk.

In Greece, dietary supplements with cordyceps are also sold, the price for a jar of capsules is about 100 euros (Cordyceps ή Κόρντισεπς).

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