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Most Expensive Mushroom
Some may have you believe that the world’s most expensive mushroom is the white truffle. While that rare fungus is truly expensive, it lacks one important quality—it’s not a freakin’ mushroom. Now that we’ve cleared that up, Japan’s matsutake mushroom can take its place as the most expensive mushroom in the world.
The matsutake, or mattake, mushroom is expensive because of its rarity. While its historical prevalence meant it was nearly synonymous with autumn in Japan, the introduction of an insect that kills the trees under which the mushroom grows has caused a dramatic decrease in the number of matsutake mushrooms. A method for farming the matsutake has yet to be developed, which means the lack of trees from which to harvest these mushrooms naturally is a serious problem for the species.
The world’s most expensive mushroom can be purchased for around $1,000 per pound, though prices for specific mushrooms may reach up to $2,000 per pound. It is known more for its spiced, fruity aroma than its flavor and is a cherished gift in the Japanese corporate world

I don’t doubt that matsutake mushrooms are expensive in Japan. But I have never heard matsi’s referred to as Mattake.

The only reference I could find on the internet for Mattake was dated 1904 in the Exhibition of the Empire of Japan, Official Catalog, which was presented by the Imperial Japanese Commission to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition as a requirement in participating in the Exposition. I think that this reference to Mattake was a typo since “matsu-take” was printed elsewhere in the text. Matsutake are also known here in the U.S. as pine mushrooms – and by harvesters of this species as just matsi’s. In mushroom reference books the common name for those found in the U.S. is American Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare).

At one time, just a few years ago, harvesters, here in the U.S, were paid over $600 per pound by buyers, who then shipped them to Japanese markets. Now (2009 season) harvesters are getting anywhere from $10 to $20 USD per pound. I know this because I picked Matsutake mushrooms in 2009. The American matsutake market has dried as Japanese buyers shifted their focus to China which has, according to Japanese buyers, a higher quality Matsutake.

If I’m wrong about this, I will eat my Mattake’s.

http://most-expensive.net/mushroom

expensive delicious foods

Saturday, January 15, 2011

expensive foods

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