Why Himalayan Guchchi Mushrooms are so expensive?

Be it the Himalayan salt or the black pepper, the Himalayas are home to some of the costliest things in the world. However, did you know that the most expensive thing found in the Himalayas is a mushroom? The Guchchi mushrooms are exclusive to the Himalayas and are the most sought after edible mushrooms, priced between Rs 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 per kg!

Here’s all that you need to know why this beautiful and delicate mushroom is so expensive!

The Guchchi mushroom’s scientific name is Morchella Esculenta and it is also known as Morel mushrooms. Guchchi has become so famous of late that even the premium restaurants have included them in their menu. Have a look at the Twitter post from the famous restaurant chain “Punjab Grill”

Punjab Grill Guchchi mushrooms — Source: Twitter

Why is it so expensive?

The Guchchi mushrooms are highly demanded despite their high cost. This is because of their unique flavor and spongy, honeycomb texture. What makes them so exclusive is that they can’t be grown commercially. They only grow wildly in the Kangara Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, Manali and parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Another factor contributing to their price is their collection. And they are not easy to find! The villagers start their collection around March and continue till May. In the process, they go through risky areas, dig up layers of snow and look through decaying wood and leaves to find them.

Collection of Guchchi Mushrooms — All the Guchchi mushrooms are handpicked from the wild. Source: YouTube

Even after all these efforts, at times the villagers return with only a few grams of mushrooms and it can take months before enough is collected to be sold in the market. During the collection process villagers have to be careful not to break the pleated honeycomb texture as it is highly valued.

This mushroom is very delicate and fragile and therefore villagers have to be very careful while handling them so as not to break their pleated honeycomb texture. Once collected, they are hung over the fire to dry. This process is said to concentrate the flavor of the mushrooms.

Pro Tip: If you wish to buy these mushrooms then go for smaller ones. The larger mushrooms are usually old, fragile and prone to sponginess.

Although the cause of the growth of the Guchchi mushrooms isn’t known yet, it is said that thunder and lightning multiply it and they grow best in areas that had forest fires. However, scientists are yet to prove this. This mystery of sorts around the Guchchi mushroom also makes it so special for the consumers

Are Guchchi Mushrooms healthy?

Oh Yes! Their health benefits are the icing on the cake! They are rich in potassium, vitamins, and copper. They are also a rich source of vitamin D, several B-vitamins. Antioxidants from Guchchi are known to help in numerous conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes types 1 and 2.