Mirror Lake Monkey Head Mushroom

Mirror Lake Monkey Head Mushroom

　　The monkey head mushroom is world-renowned alongside bird's nest and shark fin, forming the famous "Three Mountain Delicacies of Mirror Lake" along with bear paw and deer nose, earning fame both in China and abroad. The monkey head is a large, nutrient-rich fungus that commonly grows on dead branches of oak and walnut trees, as well as fallen logs and wounds of living trees. It appears spherical, covered with a layer of tender yellow fuzz, fluffy and very much resembling the head of a young monkey—hence its name. A popular saying among mountain folk goes that monkey heads grow facing each other—if you find one on a tree, you can find another on the opposite tree; if not, it’s either because you didn’t look hard enough or it has already been picked by someone else. In truth, this isn’t the case. The monkey head mushroom is a type of fungus—the mature spores are carried by the wind and grow rapidly when they land in suitable conditions. The broad-leaved forests in the Mirror Lake area have the perfect light, humidity, and temperature for monkey head mushroom growth. In good years, three or four might grow on a single tree, sometimes even seven or eight, though those growing face to face are extremely rare. This shows that the key to their growth lies in the abundance of spores and whether the conditions are favorable.

Monkey head mushrooms are high in protein, amino acids, and various vitamins. They are rich in nutrients, delicious in taste, and known as the “meat among vegetables,” making them a prized dish in high-end banquets. However, they must be cooked properly. First, remove the bitter stem base, then soak in warm water for about ten minutes before tearing into inch-sized pieces. Cooking them with wild game from Mirror Lake’s forests—such as snow rabbits, pheasants, or roe deer—creates a red meat and yellow mushroom dish that is especially tender, aromatic, and flavorful.

Beyond being edible, monkey head mushrooms also hold significant value as a precious traditional Chinese medicine and tonic. Historical records state that the monkey head “benefits the five internal organs and aids digestion.” It has proven therapeutic effects for people suffering from indigestion, neurasthenia, gastric ulcers, and duodenal ulcers. A common preparation is soaking two liang (100g) of monkey heads in water until softened, slicing thinly, then decocting with boiling water and taking twice daily with yellow wine as a guide. Alternatively, slice five liang (250g) of monkey heads and boil with a chicken, eating once a day to treat neurasthenia and replenish bodily weakness.

Black fungus belongs to the class Basidiomycetes, order Auriculariales, and is an edible fungus that grows saprophytically on dead tree trunks and branches. It is flat in shape, resembling a human ear—hence the name “wood ear,” also called black fungus. Fresh black fungus is gelatinous, semi-transparent, dark brown, and elastic, while dried black fungus has a raised back and concave front, with the body shrinking and turning horny in texture.

Mirror Lake enjoys high temperatures and frequent rainfall in summer, and the broad-leaved forests here provide ideal conditions of temperature, humidity, and ventilation for black fungus growth.