Shiqu White Mushroom

Shiqu White Mushroom

　　Shiqu White Mushroom, a renowned specialty of Shiqu County in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is also known as "Shiqu White Mushroom." Its scientific name in Chinese is "Yellow Leucopaxillus," belonging to the Basidiomycota phylum, Agaricales order, Tricholomataceae family, and Leucopaxillus genus. The fruiting body is thick, orange-yellow, and richly aromatic.

　　In the peak of summer in Shiqu County, Garzê Prefecture, the grasslands are boundless and lush with flowers, set against blue skies and snow-capped peaks, with clear springs and streams flowing through. The air is filled with the strong scent of milk and wildflowers. If you step into this fertile expanse of grassland, you can detect a fragrant aroma of mushrooms wafting through the air. Looking around, you may spot clusters, patches, and dots of ivory-white circles and light bands among the grassy meadows and flower beds, or within the green slopes. Only when you get closer can you see their true form — golden and luminous. It then becomes clear that these patches of mushroom colonies are the famous "Zhaxi Ka (Shiqu) White Mushrooms." NFz

　　The "Shiqu White Mushroom" has been given a noble name by the local herders — "Se Xue," meaning "Golden Mushroom." Academic sources describe the "Yellow Leucopaxillus" as having an extremely limited habitat, currently known to grow only in certain areas of North America and the grasslands of Shiqu County, Sichuan Province, China. NFz

　　Historical records state that Zhao Erfeng, the Governor-General of Sichuan during the late Qing Dynasty, often accepted "Shiqu White Mushrooms" as gifts from envoys and even presented them as tributes to Empress Dowager Cixi for her enjoyment. After tasting them, the Empress Dowager was pleased and spoke highly of them. Hence, the "Shiqu White Mushroom" is also referred to as "Palace Mushroom" or "Royal Mushroom." NFz

　　The "White Mushroom" grows during the season when the grass is lush and the water is clear on the Shiqu grasslands, specifically in July and August, at altitudes between 4,080 and 4,200 meters along the Yalong River basin. The growth area features clearly identifiable mushroom rings, with a 12–15 cm outer zone of withered grass where the fruiting bodies emerge. Production correlates directly with local rainfall and temperature, typically yielding around 10 tons under normal conditions. With the improvement of living standards and the increasing demand for health products, the "Shiqu White Mushroom," which is rich in high-grade nutrients and tonic properties, will gain even greater popularity, and its potential for development into a product series is very promising. NFz