Bhutan's matsutake emerge as hidden treasure for Japanese buyers
THIMPHU (Kyodo) -- Matsutake mushrooms are prized as an autumn delicacy in Japan, but in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, where they grow on mountains
Bhutan's matsutake mushrooms have emerged as a hidden treasure for Japanese buyers, offering a more affordable alternative to their Japanese counterparts. These mushrooms, prized in Japan as an autumn delicacy, grow abundantly in Bhutan's Himalayan mountains. This year's harvest has been successful, unlike Japan's poor crop last year due to extreme heat and low rainfall.
Local forager Chimi Rinzin, 43, has collected over a dozen matsutake in a single morning, selling them to a local trading company that exports them to Japan. The best places to find matsutake are slightly damp soil areas at elevations between 3,000 and 3,400 meters. While not popular among Bhutanese, matsutake are known as "Buddha's mushroom" locally.
Bhutanese matsutake are priced significantly lower, around 1,700 yen ($10) for 250 grams, compared to Japanese matsutake. Food importer FUI Japan Co. began importing Bhutanese matsutake in 2014, with prices generally between one-fifth and one-tenth those of Japanese matsutake. Bhutanese matsutake have gained a reputation among food connoisseurs, with high-end Japanese restaurants, including Michelin star establishments, incorporating them into dishes.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
