Nan Hua Straw Mushroom

Nan Hua Straw Mushroom

　　The straw mushroom originated in the Nan Hua Temple in Shaoguan, Guangdong. It has been cultivated artificially in China for about 300 years and was introduced to countries around the world by overseas Chinese in the 1930s. It is an important tropical and subtropical mushroom species, ranking as the third most cultivated edible mushroom in the world. China leads the world in straw mushroom production, which is mainly distributed in southern China. The straw mushroom is rich in nutrition and delicious in taste. Each 100g of fresh mushroom contains 207.7mg of vitamin C, 2.6g of sugar, 2.68g of crude protein, 2.24g of fat, and 0.91g of ash. The protein in straw mushrooms contains all 18 amino acids, among which essential amino acids account for 40.47–44.47%. In addition, it also contains various mineral elements such as phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. It is abundantly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Taiwan. Known for being plump, thick-fleshed, short-stemmed, and smooth-textured with an excellent flavor, it is thus referred to as “Orchid Mushroom” or “Delicious Footed Mushroom.”

　　Historical records confirm that the straw mushroom originated in China and has a history of more than 300 years. In the second year of the Daoguang reign (1822), Yuan and others compiled the "Guangdong General Annals – Local Products Chapter" citing the "Records of Observations from Journeys": “Nan Hua Mushroom: The people of the south call fungi ‘xun,’ while those in Yuzhang and Lingnan refer to them as mushrooms. Those produced at the Nan Hua Temple in Caixi are called Nan Hua Mushrooms, also household fungi. Their taste is no less than that of northern mushrooms.” In the 23rd year of the Daoguang reign (1843), Huang Peirui’s compilation of the "Yingde County Annals – Brief on Local Products" also contains similar accounts: “Nan Hua Mushroom: Originally from the Nan Hua Temple in Qujiang, locals imitated its cultivation, and its taste is also no less than that of northern mushrooms.” Furthermore, according to the "Ningde County Annals" of Fujian: “North of the city near Wengyao, where straw rots, after rain mushrooms grow resembling clusters of stars vying to emerge. Farmers gather them and take them to market.” It can be seen that the straw mushroom was originally a wild edible fungus growing on rotten straw grass in the south, first harvested and consumed by monks at the Nan Hua Temple.