HARVEST SEASON OF THE 'KING OF MUSHROOM'

The harvest season of the fungus coincides with the rainy seasons. In Phu Yen Province, they could be found in the districts of Song Hinh, Son Hoa and Dong Xuan. This year, they have been growing slowly and abundantly so the fortunate villagers could harvest sacks of the wild mushrooms.

It is easier to find termite mushroom at nights. When illuminated, they have the ability to catch light and then automatically emit light. Besides, the denser air of the nights also makes easier to recognize their distinctive scent.

It's easier to find mushrooms if you go at night. At night, when illuminated, termites fungi have the ability to catch light and automatically emit light next to them, so the night air is often denser, so it is easy to recognize the scent of mushrooms.

Dozens of stalls have been set up in Hai Rieng Town in Song Hinh District, Cung Son Town in Son Hoa District and La Hai Town in Dong Xuan District, selling the local specialty – termite mushrooms.

“Termite mushrooms only appear once a year so every market-goer has afforded to buy them. Their prices range from VND130,000-250,000 (US$6-11) per kilo. Even those with limited budget try to buy at least a half of the kilo,” said Tran Thi Dao from Hai Rieng Town.

Like many other locals, So Thi Lang from Hai Rieng Town could harvest sacks of termite mushrooms this year and earn millions of VND.

“I could harvest only a few of the termite mushrooms that were stored in baskets or hats and enough for my family’s consumption in previous years. The fungus has grown in large quantities this rainy season so I could pick up over 6 kilos that are sold for nearly VND1 million ($44). However, that is still the cheap price sold to acquaintances. The whole villagers have been harvesting termite mushrooms and some could earn up to VND2-3 million,” she said.

So Thi Linh from Cung Son Town in Son Hoa District, said that there were a few termite mushroom sellers in the area some years ago but the number has doubled this year. Some of them have been selling bags of mushrooms that could weigh up to 10 kilos.

Another seller, Tran Van Chung, added that the fungus has also been sold abundantly on Facebook and purchased by customers from as far as Dong Nai, Binh Duong or HCM City.

“They are rare, so often stored in freezers before being sent elsewhere. Frozen mushrooms could be eaten for months,” he added.

Night hunt

Phan Van Phuoc, from Xuan Phuoc Commune (Dong Xuan District) shared the "secret" of finding termite mushrooms: “Termite mushrooms grow hidden in the bushes. When fungi appear, a family of 2 or 3 people start looking for them. The termite mushroom grows unexpectedly and is hard to see as it is covered among the fallen leaves. They could only be discovered by fortunate ones.”

According to him, the mushroom was weak but could turn over small stones to grow up. The new ones could be found in the exact places of the previous.  

There are many strange stories associated with the hunt for the wild plants. Some villagers spent all night seeking “the king of mushrooms” then saw their neighbours harvest the mushrooms grown in front of their houses. Some could easily find sacks full of mushrooms while others return empty-handed for days.

It has been chilly and raining heavily in the hilly areas of Dong Xuan District in the past few days so the termite mushrooms have continued to flourish. Their harvest season lasts from the beginning of October to December of the lunar calendar with four or five times of growth. They could be found along the banks or bushes.

This year’s prolonged drought has detained the harvest season of termite mushrooms until the last half of October of the lunar calendar. However, it has also been a bumper crop to many harvesters as they could earn kilos of the wild mushrooms.

"Termite mushrooms are delicious and nutritious. It has a natural sweet flavor so the cooks do not have to add any other spices but salt. I have harvested seasons of termite mushrooms and found that no poisonous kinds could grow among them.