Many people are looking to pick and inquire about buying chicken egg mushrooms.
Ms. Tran Thi Bich Hai (34 years old, residing at N18 Street, K Home New City social housing area, Binh Duong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City; formerly Hoa Phu Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province) said that two days ago she harvested over 1 kg of chicken egg mushrooms in a park near her house. After posting pictures on Facebook, many people contacted her to inquire about buying them.
Ms. Le Thi Tuyet (30 years old, working at VSIP 2 Industrial Park, Hoa Loi Ward, Ho Chi Minh City; formerly Hoa Loi Ward, Ben Cat Town, Binh Duong Province) also recounted having picked wild-growing chicken egg mushrooms near her workplace.
"For the past month, I've harvested about 6 kg. I sell each kg for 200,000 - 230,000 VND, and many people have inquired about buying them," Ms. Tuyet said.
Chicken egg mushroom
PHOTO: THANH NAM
On Facebook groups, many people are posting ads selling chicken egg mushrooms. Conversely, many members are also posting ads looking to buy this type of mushroom for cooking. In these groups, the price of chicken egg mushrooms ranges from 200,000 to 300,000 VND per kilogram.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ai Nhi (36 years old, working at Viet Huong Industrial Park, Thuan Giao Ward, Ho Chi Minh City; formerly Thuan Giao Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province) said that chicken egg mushrooms are usually found in areas with soil, grass, and green trees after rain. After work, Ms. Nhi often takes the time to go look for and pick them.
According to Ms. Nhi, some colleagues, upon hearing about chicken egg mushrooms, wondered what kind of mushroom it was, whether it tasted good when cooked, and what its nutritional value was…
Many people seek out and pick chicken egg mushrooms.
PHOTO: THANH NAM
Egg mushrooms are edible and delicious, but it's important to identify the right kind.
According to culinary expert Do Hong Vinh, who works at a restaurant at 216 Vo Van Ngan Street (Thu Duc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), the egg mushroom has an appearance similar to a chicken egg. The cap is convex, with a smooth surface, and the stem is cylindrical, about 10-15 cm tall. The inside is yellowish-white, reminiscent of egg yolk, and has a pleasant flavor.
"Egg mushrooms have a fragrant aroma, soft flesh, and can be prepared in many dishes such as stir-fried with garlic, stir-fried with seafood, or cooked in porridge... This type of mushroom is also nutritious, containing fiber, vitamins, and some minerals. If it's the right edible variety, it's quite delicious, with a natural flavor that doesn't require elaborate preparation. However, wild-harvested mushrooms must be correctly identified before use. When preparing them, they need to be cleaned and thoroughly cooked; you shouldn't eat raw or undercooked mushrooms," Mr. Vinh said.
Chicken egg mushrooms have a fragrant aroma, tender flesh, and can be prepared in many ways, such as stir-fried with garlic, stir-fried with seafood, or used in porridge...
PHOTO: THANH NAM
From a scientific perspective, Dr. Truong Binh Nguyen, a mycologist from Da Lat University, states that the egg mushroom belongs to the Amanita group. When immature, the mushroom has a white outer membrane. When mature, it turns yellow.
"Chicken egg mushrooms have beautiful colors and a fragrant flavor. Many people have a habit of searching for and picking them to prepare dishes and enjoy eating delicious chicken egg mushrooms," Mr. Nguyen said.
According to Mr. Nguyen, the egg mushroom and some other wild mushroom species can be valuable food sources. However, harvesting and using them requires knowledge of mushroom identification, especially to avoid confusing them with poisonous mushrooms. Besides the egg mushroom, there are also similar-looking mushrooms in nature that contain dangerous toxins.
"The fact that many people harvest wild mushrooms, including oyster mushrooms, for personal use is not a cause for concern if the harvesters have enough experience to identify them. However, with naturally growing mushrooms, special caution is needed because edible and poisonous mushrooms can have quite similar appearances," Mr. Nguyen said.
According to this expert, distinguishing between different mushroom species is not always easy, as their morphology can change significantly depending on environmental conditions. Even the same species can have different appearances depending on hot, cold, or humid weather, making it easy for non-experts to misidentify them.
Regarding the egg mushroom specifically, Mr. Nguyen advises that those who harvest and process it into dishes must have knowledge and experience in mushroom cultivation.
"Eggplant mushrooms shouldn't be identified solely by their color or external shape. The morphology of the mushroom varies considerably depending on environmental conditions. Even within the same species, the shape can differ significantly depending on hot, cold, or humid weather. Therefore, inexperienced individuals should not rely on a few characteristics such as a yellow cap, an egg-like shape, or the location where the mushroom grows to determine if it's eggplant and then proceed with cooking," Mr. Nguyen noted.
The expert added: "With naturally growing mushrooms, the experience of local people is an important source of information. Only mushrooms that have been used by people in a particular area for a long time and are known for their identification should be considered for consumption. Even I, despite having researched mushrooms extensively, when visiting a different area and seeing a mushroom that looks similar to a familiar one, still have to ask the locals if they eat that particular mushroom. Because the same species, or species with similar appearances, can change their morphology when growing in different environments and in different locations. Without accurate identification, consumers can easily mistake edible mushrooms for poisonous ones."