Cordyceps Sinensis

Cordyceps sinensis is an entomopathogenic fungus (a fungus that grows on insects). It is mainly found in the meadows above 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) on Tibetan Plateau in Southwest China and Himalayan regions of Bhutan and Nepal. It parasitizes larvae of ghost moths and produces a fruiting body which used to be valued as a herbal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine.

Under favorable conditions, the caterpillar buds stick like stroma in summer. Cordyceps are mainly found in the alpine shrub-meadow zone of high mountains of the highlands of Nagqu of Tibet, Yushu of Qinghai and Guoluo of Sichuan.

Why is it so expensive?

1. 1. The growth environment of Cordyceps sinensis is harsh. Cordyceps sinensis only grows in the plateau area with an altitude of 3000 to 5000 meters, and the growth cycle is as long as one year. The size of specifications depends on uncontrollable environmental factors such as sunlight, air humidity, soil trace elements, temperature difference between day and night, etc.
   2. The yield of Cordyceps sinensis is low. The formation of Cordyceps sinensis is caused by the attack of bat moth larvae by fungal spores, so the relative probability is not very high. The formation of Cordyceps sinensis itself is a miracle of nature. In addition, each picker can only pick about 10 Cordyceps sinensis in a day.
   3. Picking is very difficult. In plateau areas, the oxygen in the air is very low, so ordinary people can't adapt to plateau operation. They need to bend down and climb on their knees for a long time to search. After picking, they also need to brush the covered soil with a brush, so the labor cost is high.