Cordyceps from Jiuzhaigou

Cordyceps from Jiuzhaigou

　　Cordyceps from Jiuzhaigou is a specialty of Jiuzhaigou County in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Jiuzhaigou cordyceps contains fat, protein, cordycepic acid, cordycepin, and other components. In addition to having unique therapeutic effects on conditions such as kidney deficiency and impotence, nocturnal emission, and soreness in the lower back and knees, it also provides excellent nourishment for those who are chronically ill, weak, or anemic.

　　In early summer, on the high mountains at altitudes of 3,000 to 5,000 meters around Jiuzhaigou, small plants shaped like scabbards and colored purplish-red push through the snow, heralding the arrival of spring. This is the precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb known as cordyceps. According to modern pharmacological analysis, cordyceps contains fat, protein, cordycepic acid, cordycepin, and other components. In addition to having unique therapeutic effects on conditions such as kidney deficiency and impotence, nocturnal emission, and soreness in the lower back and knees, it also provides excellent nourishment for those who are chronically ill, weak, or anemic.

　　May is a great time for travelers visiting Jiuzhaigou. It is also the harvest season for Jiuzhaigou cordyceps during this period. Fresh cordyceps, along with ultra-low prices, make it hard to resist. Compared to dried cordyceps, fresh cordyceps is easier to distinguish between real and fake, and offers higher nutritional and medicinal value. The cordyceps harvest season is short, so if you want to buy genuine cordyceps, now is the best time to head to Jiuzhaigou.

　　The Tibetans in Jiuzhaigou make a delicious cordyceps duck dish that is also a premium tonic. To prepare it, a live duck is slaughtered and drained of blood, then 10 to 20 pieces of cordyceps are evenly and diagonally inserted into the duck’s back using skilled knife work. Salt, ginger, and other seasonings are added, and the duck is then slow-cooked in a clay pot over a low flame until tender.