Matsutake mushrooms are known to be a valuable ingredient, but in general, their price is not very outrageous. But at the recent spring auction of matsutake mushrooms held in Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, a 14-centimeter-long matsutake mushroom weighing 95 grams fetched a sky-high price of 96,000 yen, or about 5,600 yuan. Almost 10 times the usual price.

What makes this matsutake so expensive?
Japan is at the forefront of the world in the study of the artificial cultivation of matsutake mushrooms, and since the beginning of the last century, artificial cultivation has not been possible. In recent years, due to environmental degradation and large-scale predatory collection, wild matsutake resources have been depleted day by day, and the global production of matsutake mushrooms has been decreasing year by year, and its economic value has been rising.
Matsutake mushrooms, which are known as the "king of all fungi", were listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for the first time. Matsutake mushrooms have high edible and medicinal value, and are loved by the Japanese people, and grilled matsutake mushrooms and matsutake rice have become famous foods in Japan. However, due to environmental degradation and large-scale predatory harvesting, wild matsutake mushrooms in Osaka Prefecture were endangered as early as 2014. Japanese media commented that as one of the important raw materials of Japanese cuisine, being included in the world's endangered species may make it more difficult for matsutake mushrooms to be served on the table in the future, and Japan's food culture may also be impacted.
Matsutake mushroom, scientific name Matsuguchi mushroom, alias pine mushroom, zygotes, Taiwan fungus, belongs to the basidiomycete subphylum, mushroom family, is pine oak and other trees exophytic mycorrhizal fungus, with a unique rich fragrance, is the world's rare and valuable natural medicinal mushrooms, China's second-class endangered protected species. Matsutake mushrooms grow well in sparsely nourished and dry woodlands, generally in autumn, usually parasitizing the roots of Akamatsu, Yan pine, Hemlock, and Japanese hemlock. Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan and other areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are the main production areas of Matsutake mushrooms in China, with Sichuan as the first, Tibet as the best quality, and Shangri-La with the largest reputation.