From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Disambiguation: For the fictional character see Matsutake Kaoru.
Matsutake (Japanese: 松茸, pine mushroom, Tricholoma
matsutake = syn. T. nauseosum) is the common name for
a highly sought after mycorrhizal mushroom that grows in Asia, Europe,
and North
America. It is prized for its distinct spicy-aromatic odor by
Japanese.[1] In Vietnam, it is called
nấm tùng nhung.
Habitat
and distribution
Matsutake grow under trees and are usually concealed under
fallen leaves and duff on the forest floor. It forms a symbiotic relationship
with the roots of a limited number of tree species.
Matsutake are known to grow in China, Japan,
Korea, Finland, Sweden, among other countries. In Japan it is
most commonly associated with Japanese Red Pine. However in the
North American Pacific Northwest it is found in coniferous forests made up of one or more
of the following species: Douglas-fir, Noble Fir, Shasta Red Fir, Sugar Pine, Ponderosa Pine or Lodgepole Pine.
In California, it is
also associated with hardwoods, including Tanoak and Madrone.
In 1999, N. Bergius and E. Danell reported that Swedish
(Tricholoma nauseosum) and Japanese matsutake
(T. matsutake) are the same species.[2] The
report led to increased import of matsutake from Northern Europe
to Japan because of the comparable flavor and taste.
Cost and
availability
Matsutake are hard to harvest and therefore the price is very
high. Domestic production of matsutake in Japan has been sharply
reduced over the last 50 years due to a pine nematode Bursaphelenchus
xylophilus, and it has influenced the price a great deal.
The annual harvest of matsutake in Japan is now less than 1,000
tons, and it is largely made up by imports from China, Korea,
the North
American Pacific Northwest (Northern
California, Oregon, Washington, and British
Columbia), and Northern Europe (Sweden and Finland).[3] The
price for matsutake in the Japanese market is highly dependent on
quality, availability, and origin. The Japanese matsutake at the
beginning of the season, which is the highest grade, can go up to
$2,000 per kilogram. In contrast, the average value for imported
matsutake is about $90 per kilogram.
See also
References
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