With their deep-rooted history, robust flavour profile, and potential health benefits, Shiitake Mushrooms have garnered global recognition. These mushrooms have transcended their humble beginnings to become a globally cherished delicacy, renowned not only for their distinct flavour and aroma but also for their potential health benefits. And now, 37-year-old Lhüvevolü A Rhakho from Nagaland’s Phek district explores this mushroom farming.
How This Naga Woman Started Growing These Mushrooms
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Dr Sosang Longkumer is credited with introducing shiitake mushrooms into Nagaland in 2018. This opened the door for the emergence of “mushroom-preneurs” in the Northeastern state. Shiitake mushrooms typically thrive in East Asia. By teaching the state’s farmers how to grow them, he hoped to guarantee the ongoing availability of these mushrooms.
This versatility in growing methods has contributed to their widespread availability and increased consumption. Lhüvevolü decided on the notion of shiitake because it was simpler and easier to produce than other mushrooms. But the truth is that the taste of the mushrooms grown here was superior to those grown elsewhere, which is why the shiitake revolution in Nagaland took off faster than anyone had imagined.
Although they have historically been produced on sawdust logs in other regions of the world, Nagaland uses significantly different techniques. According to an article by The Better India, Lhüvevolü uses oak logs, the mushrooms have a superior flavour and more medicinal value.
Starting Native Origins, she motivates the farmers to cultivate these mushrooms by giving them oak saplings. Native Organics has aided smallholder farmers by establishing market connections. Selling shiitake mushrooms generates income to control our seasonal home expenses.
The items include smoked shiitake mushroom powders, chutneys, and flakes as well as other similar items that sell for ₹500 for a 75 g jar.
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How Are Shiitake Mushrooms?
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One of the defining characteristics of shiitake mushrooms is their bold, earthy flavour and meaty texture, which makes them a favourite ingredient in various cuisines. The ones grown in Nagaland come with numerous advantages. The terpenoids, sterols, and lipids found in the dark brown fungi that grow on hardwood trees are thought to have immune-stimulating and anti-cancer properties. The fungi taste distinctly umami in their dried form, which makes them an excellent accompaniment to food.
Beyond their culinary appeal, shiitake mushrooms have gained attention for their potential health benefits. They are a nutritional powerhouse, containing an assortment of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. They are a good source of B vitamins, particularly B6.
The truth is that the taste of the mushrooms grown here was superior to those grown elsewhere!
So, have you ever tasted these mushrooms?
Cover image credits: Instagram/NativeOrganics
First Published: August 22, 2023 8:27 PM