Longqing Chicken Truffle Mushrooms

Longqing Chicken Truffle Mushrooms

　　Chicken truffle mushrooms are a type of fungus and are considered the "king of fungi." Whether stir-fried alone, deep-fried, made into soups, or cooked with meat, they all boast a uniquely fragrant taste that leaves a lasting impression. There are various theories about how chicken truffle mushrooms got their name. Li Shizhen wrote in *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Chicken truffle, also called chicken mushroom. People in the south call it chicken truffle because its flavor resembles that of chicken.” Ancient sources also say that when mature, chicken truffle mushrooms “are covered with fluff resembling chicken feathers, hence the name ‘chicken’; and because they emerge from the earth, they are called ‘truffle.’”

　　Throughout history, Yunnan’s chicken truffle mushrooms have been regarded as a delicacy and were offered as tribute to the imperial court. During the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, Xie Wenge, a man from Guangdong who was in Yunnan, wrote a poem specifically dedicated to chicken truffle mushrooms: “The mushroom’s fragrance drifts beyond the misty rain, / A rare taste wafts from this miasmic land; / Its snow-white flesh is hard to disdain, / As fragrant as mulberry goose, standing on par. / Its roots coil around ant nests aplenty, / Though its fame doesn’t rise above the chicken kind; / Its sprouts grow unlike veggies or bamboo shoots, / With a velvety yam-like cap in emerald cloud behind.” The poem describes both the color, aroma, and taste of the chicken truffle mushrooms, as well as their natural growing environment and the shape they take upon emerging from the ground.

　　Chicken truffle mushrooms typically appear during the fifth, sixth, and seventh lunar months. Shizong is famous for its Longqing Chicken Truffle Mushrooms. There’s a saying: “On the fifth day of the fifth month, the chicken truffles push through the soil.” In June and July, with abundant rainfall and moist soil, combined with Longqing’s unique geographical location, the conditions are ideal for the growth of these mushrooms. They mainly grow in mountainous regions with red sandy soil and pine forests. Longqing’s chicken truffle mushrooms have tender, richly flavored flesh, with a uniquely fresh and aromatic taste. Around 4,000 kilograms of chicken truffle mushrooms are produced in Longqing each year.