People say that this mushroom grows from termite mounds, hence its name. When it first emerges from the ground, it looks like a straw mushroom. After just one night, the mushroom grows large and has a diameter of about 3 cm. The top of the head is black and gradually fades to the sides of the ear; the stem is white with a slight yellow tinge at the base; the mushroom is about 5 - 6 cm high. If not pulled out in time, it will wither very quickly within 24 hours of emerging from the ground.
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Termite mushroom |
Nguyen Dac Thanh |
Unlike Melaleuca mushrooms that only grow during the summer rains after a series of hot and humid days, termite mushrooms usually grow in late autumn and early winter. If Melaleuca mushrooms are a gift from the soil that is clearly characteristic of the Central region, or rather, only found in Hue and Quang Tri , termite mushrooms are different. This species is present in most localities, and the time when the mushrooms grow above the ground also depends on the region. Some places are in the dry season, some grow after the summer rains. But in Hue, mushrooms naturally grow when the rainy season begins and the weather turns cold.
When it rains, accompanied by cold winds, it is also the time when people in the countryside wake up early to look for termite mushrooms. Coming back to the countryside during the mushroom season, you will easily see people wearing flashlights looking for the gift that grows from the ground. They weave through the bushes, carefully turning over each leaf.
Finding termite mushrooms is sometimes a matter of chance, but some people often identify termite nests in advance, and when it rains, they go around there to find mushrooms. If they found mushrooms in a certain spot last year, they will return the following year.
There were times when my friends and I from the countryside often went out together to find them. We could pick a whole basket full of Melaleuca mushrooms in about 30 minutes. But with termite mushrooms, it was different. If we could find a few grams in a whole morning, it would be considered a great success. Because they are hard to find and hard to come by, the price of this mushroom is also sky-high.
What delicious dishes can be made from termite mushrooms? After being picked, the mushrooms are cleaned, rinsed with water, drained, and then processed. With Melaleuca mushrooms, the processor must soak them in salt water for a while, then boil them to reduce the bitterness. But with termite mushrooms, this is not necessary, because they are not bitter and do not have mucus like Melaleuca mushrooms.
From mushrooms, people can make many delicious dishes, but I still like the most the termite mushroom and vermicelli dish. My mother usually boils the vermicelli first until it is soft, then she marinates some shrimp with spices for about 30 minutes to let it absorb. The shrimp absorbs the spices, my mother puts it on the plate and stir-fries it until it is evenly cooked. When the vermicelli starts to soften, she lowers the heat, adds more water, and pours the stir-fried shrimp into the vermicelli. After seasoning everything to taste, my mother pours the mushroom basket over it and simmers it for about 5 minutes. To make the mushrooms delicious, they must not be overcooked. My mother's vermicelli and mushroom dish always gives me a delicious feeling, chewy, sweet, soft with a bit of the rustic flavor of the freshwater shrimp.
In addition to termite mushrooms cooked with noodles, you can also prepare stir-fried termite mushrooms, termite mushrooms cooked with porridge, termite mushrooms cooked with vegetable soup. More elaborately, you can season them, wrap them in foil, and steam or grill them...
The nutrients from mushrooms give users a wonderful taste; the mushrooms are chewy, sweet, and have a fatty feeling when chewed. With termite mushrooms, I think even the pickiest eaters, once they take a bite to enjoy the flavor from the ground, will surely be easily swayed.
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