Wuxi Black Fungus

Wuxi Black Fungus

　　Black fungus, also known as cloud ear fungus or wood ear fungus. Taxonomically, it belongs to the class Basidiomycetes, order Auriculariales, and family Auriculariaceae. It features a dark brown color, soft texture, delicious taste, and rich nutritional value. It can be used in both vegetarian and meat-based dishes. Not only does it enhance the flavor of Chinese cuisine, but it also nourishes blood and beautifies the skin, giving a rosy complexion and radiant glow, and provides medicinal benefits such as helping to prevent iron-deficiency anemia. It is mainly distributed in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Fujian, Taiwan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan. It grows on decaying wood of over 120 species of broadleaf trees, including oak, poplar, banyan, and pagoda tree, either singly or in clusters. Currently, it is primarily cultivated on oak logs or using bag culture methods.

Black fungus taxonomically belongs to the class Basidiomycetes, order Auriculariales, and family Auriculariaceae. There are eight species in China, with seven found in Yunnan. It is distributed across prefectures and cities such as Wenshan, Honghe, Baoshan, Dehong, Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna, and Qujing, making Yunnan one of China’s major production regions for black fungus, ranking second in national output. It grows on decaying wood of over 120 species of broadleaf trees, including oak, poplar, banyan, and pagoda tree, either singly or in clusters.

The fruiting body of black fungus is gelatinous, forming irregular disc- or ear-shaped structures with diameters ranging from 3 to 12 centimeters. When fresh, it is soft; when dried, it becomes hard and horny. It has a delicate texture and unique flavor, and is a renowned edible fungus rich in nutrients. It contains carbohydrates, 10.6 grams of protein, 0.2 grams of fat, 306 joules of energy, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It offers benefits such as boosting qi, relieving hunger, promoting lightness and mental acuity, stopping bleeding and pain, enriching blood, and improving circulation. Rich in polysaccharide colloids, it has excellent cleansing effects and is an important health food for miners and textile workers. It also has certain anti-cancer properties and functions in treating cardiovascular diseases.