Guchhi Mushrooms: The Expensive Himalayan Treasure
Guchhi or Morel Mushrooms, scientific name Morchella, are the most desired wild mushrooms in the world. These are distinguished by their honeycomb appearance. Guchhi has a meaty texture with an almost earthy, nutty flavour you will ever come across. It is one of the world’s most expensive mushrooms and is quite difficult to hunt in the wild.
Pale and yellow colour Guchhi Mushrooms are a delicacy that is presently the rockstar of the Fungai world. As these mushrooms are quite expensive, we know that you might be wondering why. So, here are some reasons:
- They are foraged from the wild because they are very difficult to cultivate.
- They have a very short growth season
- They are hollow from the inside which makes them highly fragile.
It takes months to collect these mushrooms in the wild. The search for these rare treasures is still a challenging task for local farmers, who spend hours hiking in search of these little treasures. They grow naturally in the forests, the search for these mushrooms can be challenging as they grow in a very specific environmental condition. Guchhi is truly the most exciting mushroom to hunt, it is because each season they might grow at different spots from the previous year.
Due to its difficult cultivation process, these mushrooms can’t be found easily in the market like other mushrooms. Fresh Guchhis are only available in the harvesting season which is from April to May, apart from that you can buy it in dried form. This expensive “Himalayan Treasure” are usually found in the foothills of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
When we talk about the world of mushrooms, The Guchhi Mushroom stands out among the rest. This is all because of its delicious taste. But most of us don’t realize these mushrooms contain some amazing health benefits. Besides its price, these mushrooms are filled with a lot of nutrient content.
Guchhi Mushrooms are a great source of Vitamin B6 and D, antioxidants, minerals, enzymes and dietary fiber. They have anti-inflammatory properties, that help to improve cognitive function.
The antioxidants in these mushrooms help protect heart and other diseases. It helps to lower cholesterol and maintain blood sugar levels as they are a good source of dietary fiber.
These mushrooms can help in fighting bacteria and viruses as they contain antibodies and antiviral agents.
Gucchis makes a great addition to countless dishes, but make sure not to consume it in a raw form else it will cause stomach aches. When cooking Guchhi it is vital to use high heat. Guchhi is a versatile ingredient that can add unique flavour to many dishes if it is cooked properly. Some most popular dishes of Guchhi are Gucchi Yakhni and Gucchi Pulao.
