In this world, the most difficult things to understand and express about the taste of food are “freshness” and “fragrance”.

Plants such as bamboo shoots, bamboo fungus, matsutake mushrooms, and truffles are all rare and delicious ingredients in food.

The umami and aroma contained in it are not like the salty, sweet, spicy, numbing and sour food. They are invisible and intangible. You can only feel the mysterious flavor inherent in this food by chewing it carefully and savoring it quietly.

To realize the holiness of this heaven-given delicacy, let’s talk about the rarest matsutake mushrooms in the Western Sichuan Plateau.

In the east of the world, there is such a paradise land called "the sun and moon in the heart, the world of longing".

There are towering snow-capped mountains, deep canyons, crystal-clear snow waters, colorful grasslands, and ancient forests.

It seems that the most beautiful and pure beauty in the world is hidden here. This is the "mysterious and harmonious natural secret" described by the British writer Hilton.

It is Xiaojin, Litang, Daocheng, Diqing Shangri-La and Linzhi in Tibet, which are rich in matsutake on the Western Sichuan Plateau.

Looking for the roots of matsutake Matsutake mushrooms first appeared in my country about 7,000 years ago.

Mainly concentrated in the plateau snowy areas at the junction of Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan.

During the Yuanyou reign of Emperor Zhezong of the Song Dynasty (1082~1094), Matsutake was recorded in Tang Shenwei's "Jing Shi Zheng Lei Bei Ji Materia Medica".

Because this parasitic plant fungus grows under pine forests and has buds like deer antlers, it is named matsutake.

This fungus is called matsutake mushroom (xun) in the "Genomic Genealogy" written by Chen Renyu in the Song Dynasty. In the "Compendium of Materia Medica" written by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, matsutake mushroom is listed under the section of fragrant mushrooms.

That is matsutake.

Matsutake contains three precious active substances, matsutake polysaccharide, matsutake polypeptide and the world's unique anti-cancer substance - matsutake alcohol.

In this way, matsutake is listed as a rare and valuable natural medicinal fungus and edible fungus in the world, and a second-level key protected wild species in my country.

Matsutake has a balanced and sufficient nutrition, and has many functions such as improving immunity, anti-cancer and anti-tumor, treating diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, anti-aging and beautifying, promoting gastrointestinal protection and protecting the liver.

Matsutake has long enjoyed a high reputation in Japan and Europe and is regarded as a treasure among fungi, and is known as the "King of Mushrooms".

The reason why matsutake mushrooms are so highly regarded is not only because of its tender meat and rich flavor, but also because it has special anti-cancer and anti-radiation effects. It is the only person who survived the nuclear explosions of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan and can resist nuclear weapons.

Polluted plants.

Matsutake is found in many parts of the world, but the largest production and best quality production area is in China.

1. Shangri-La matsutake, Yunnan matsutake production accounts for 40% of the country's matsutake production, while Diqing Shangri-La matsutake accounts for more than 65% of Yunnan's fresh matsutake exports, becoming the "hometown of matsutake" in Yunnan.

Diqing Prefecture is located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, at the junction of Yunnan, Tibet, and Sichuan provinces. It has little damage to the natural environment. There are no industrial and mining enterprises with serious pollution in the territory, and the original ecology is well preserved.

Shangri-La matsutake is famous both at home and abroad for its large mushroom body, tender meat, long-lasting aroma, and good color.

2. Yajiang matsutake, Yajiang is located in the southern part of Sichuan Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the middle reaches of the Yalong River, and the middle section of the Hengduan Mountains in the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Yajiang County has a unique natural, climatic and geographical environment that is ideal for the growth of matsutake and other wild edible fungi. It produces more than 6,000 tons of wild fungi annually, of which more than 1,000 tons of high-quality matsutake are produced annually.

On August 3, 2013, the China Edible Fungi Association awarded Yajiang County the title of “Hometown of Tricholoma Matsutake in China”.

Yajiang matsutake is highly favored at home and abroad because of its high yield, large size, fine meat, good color and fragrant taste. Every year, Japanese, Korean and other businessmen travel far and wide to Yajiang to buy matsutake.

3. Danba matsutake, the majestic Stana Snow Mountain is located in Danba County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan.

Danba is a key virgin forest area in southwest China with a good ecological environment and rich plant resources. It is a rare treasure house of plant genes.

Stana Holy Mountain is the mountain where the souls of Tibetan heroes reside. It is one of the birthplaces of Jiarong culture and is known as the "Land of Thousands of Towers" and the "Valley of Beauty".

Danba matsutake has a unique flavor, smooth and elastic texture, and a lingering fragrance in your mouth after eating, with a unique fresh fragrance.

4. Xiaojin matsutake, Xiaojin County is located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in the northwest of Sichuan Province and in the south of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.

The small golden matsutake mushroom has a bright color, a plump body shape, and an umbrella-like shape. The cap is brown and the stipe is white, all with fibrous, hairy scales.

Matsutake mushroom meat is white, tender and plump, with fine texture, excellent taste, rich aroma and rich nutritional value.

The ones that grow in the humus soil of the Qinggang Forest in the high mountains of Xiaojin County are of the highest quality, and those that have not yet opened their umbrellas are of the highest quality.

A magical tribute to life. Matsutake is the noble among wild fungi. It not only has an elegant shape, but also has a strong and astonishing fragrance.

During the season when matsutake mushrooms are unearthed, from July to October every year, hidden in the primitive mountain forests with the most magical and charming scenery, and the most sacred and noble ecology on earth, matsutake mushrooms begin to emerge from the ground and stand upright.

Matsutake mushrooms must have abundant rainfall before they are unearthed, and sufficient sunshine after they are born.

Temperature, insect pests, violent collection, etc. in the growing environment can cause great damage to matsutake mycelium and have a direct impact on the growth quality of matsutake.