Japanese shiitake mushrooms, priced at 8.6 million VND/kg, are still attracting customers.

Japanese shiitake mushrooms are being sold at some health food stores for up to 8.6 million VND/kg, but many people are still buying them to enjoy.

Japanese shiitake mushrooms are being sold at some health food stores for up to 8.6 million VND/kg. However, many people still buy them simply to make dishes like stir-fried vegetables with shiitake mushrooms, tofu with mushroom sauce, or as a seasoning in chicken stew…

Shiitake mushrooms, also known as Lentinus edodes, have been used as a food and spice for hundreds of years. Currently, shiitake mushrooms are widely available on the market, both fresh and dried.

Accordingly, prices vary considerably depending on the type and origin. For example, dried shiitake mushrooms range from 180,000 to 450,000 VND/kg depending on the type, fresh Chinese shiitake mushrooms cost 90,000 VND/kg, and fresh Vietnamese shiitake mushrooms cost around 170,000 VND/kg.

Shiitake mushrooms, also known as Lentinus edodes, are widely available on the market today, in both fresh and dried forms.

Besides the commonly available dried and fresh shiitake mushrooms from China and Vietnam, food stores have recently been selling shiitake mushrooms originating from Japan at prices as high as 8.5-8.6 million VND/kg. Notably, despite being among the most expensive edible mushrooms sold in Vietnam, Japanese shiitake mushrooms remain a highly sought-after item.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, owner of a clean food store in Tay Son (Dong Da, Hanoi), yesterday, despite it being a holiday, all 120 boxes of Japanese shiitake mushrooms that had just arrived at his store were sold out within 30 minutes.

Mr. Quang shared that shiitake mushrooms in Japan look similar to those in Vietnam; however, they differ in the cultivation process. The Japanese don't grow shiitake mushrooms in mushroom substrate bags. Instead, they drill holes and inoculate the substrate onto oak logs to ensure the mushrooms grow and develop in the most natural environment possible.

In Japan, there is a vast oak forest in Oita Prefecture (southern Japan), famous for cultivating shiitake mushrooms. However, because they are grown on oak wood, the yield is not high, but in return, the quality of the shiitake mushrooms is comparable to those harvested in the wild. This is also the reason why shiitake mushrooms grown on oak wood are always among the most expensive mushrooms.

Many families buy Japanese shiitake mushrooms to stir-fry and cook in various dishes.

Compared to commercially available dried shiitake mushrooms, Japanese shiitake mushrooms are currently about 13-47 times more expensive, depending on the variety. That means 1kg of shiitake mushrooms currently costs nearly 8.6 million VND, while a box weighing approximately 140 grams costs 1.2 million VND.

According to Mr. Quang, although they are expensive, even more expensive than Vietnamese termite mushrooms, the number of customers buying shiitake mushrooms remains stable and is gradually increasing. For example, when he first started importing Japanese shiitake mushrooms, the store only sold around 60 boxes per week. Now, even with a weekly shipment of shiitake mushrooms, they sell out as soon as they arrive, and the quantity imported has doubled compared to when he first started selling them.

Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, premium Japanese shiitake mushrooms are also quite popular, despite their price reaching 8.5 million VND at the store.

According to Ms. Yen Nhi, owner of a high-end organic food store in Binh Thanh District (Ho Chi Minh City), Oita shiitake mushrooms, originating from Japan, are currently a popular choice among wealthy consumers.

"Unlike fresh fruits, dried Japanese shiitake mushrooms are packaged in boxes, making them very easy to store, and the store always has them in stock," she said, adding that customers buying them as gifts usually purchase 1-2 boxes, while those buying them for personal consumption buy around 4-5 boxes because these mushrooms last a long time without worrying about mold or spoilage.

Admittedly, although Japanese shiitake mushrooms are quite expensive, Ms. Pham Nhu Thao from Trieu Viet Vuong Street (Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi) shared that she orders two boxes of shiitake mushrooms almost every week.

“Shiitake mushrooms are not only delicious but also nutritious, packed with nutrients that help prevent many diseases, especially cancer. Importantly, they don't require complicated preparation; shiitake mushrooms can be stir-fried with vegetables, used in soups, stewed with chicken, or made into seafood spring rolls… they all taste great,” Ms. Thao said.

According to Ms. Thao, this type of mushroom can be used both as food and as a spice, but currently on the market, Chinese shiitake mushrooms are often disguised as Vietnamese mushrooms; she cannot distinguish between Vietnamese and Chinese products, so she chooses to buy Japanese shiitake mushrooms to eat for peace of mind.

According to VNN