One picture teaches you how to distinguish real from fake cordyceps; you can learn it in no time.
Cordyceps sinensis (abbreviated as "Cordyceps") is formed by the connection between the insect body and the fungal stroma, with a total length of 9-12 cm. The insect body resembles a silkworm in its third molt, about 3-6 cm long and 0.4-0.7 cm in diameter. It is dark yellow and rough in appearance, with numerous transverse wrinkles on the back and eight pairs of legs on the ventral side, the four pairs located in the middle of the insect body being clearly visible. Identification mainly involves the following five aspects:
First, look at the appearance. Fake cordyceps looks better than real cordyceps. Grassland cordyceps differ from forest cordyceps; grassland cordyceps is brownish-yellow, with a large, soft body; forest cordyceps is brownish-red, with a plump, firm body. Both types of cordyceps, when broken, have white flesh with dark spots and a medullary cavity. Additionally, the head of a real cordyceps fits perfectly to the inner part of the fruit, without obvious signs of adhesion; the body of a real cordyceps has rings, arranged in groups of three, with the rings near the head being finer; fake cordyceps, on the other hand, has symmetrical raised dots on one side and parallel stripes with equal spacing on the other, usually made using a mold.
Secondly, smell it. Genuine cordyceps has a natural mushroom aroma and a slightly fishy smell, while fake cordyceps generally has no smell.
Thirdly, test the texture. Genuine Cordyceps sinensis, when grasped in the hand, has the texture of dried grass and is almost weightless. Rubbing the insect body and stroma back and forth in the palm of your hand will not leave any stains. After putting the Cordyceps down, your hands will only have some mud, sand, and wood chips on them, without any powder of unknown composition. Fake Cordyceps sinensis often reveals its flaws in these aspects.
The fourth-grade Cordyceps sinensis has a crisp texture like green peas, becoming more fragrant the more you chew, with a sweet aroma similar to shiitake mushrooms. In contrast, fake Cordyceps sinensis feels like chewing hard, crumbly licorice, with a grinding sensation. When moistened with saliva, it not only lacks the aroma of shiitake mushrooms but also leaves a muddy taste in the mouth.
5. Soaking False Cordyceps: After soaking in boiling water for 10 minutes, the true form of the insect will gradually appear. The yellow outer layer will peel off, and the false fungal stroma will also begin to detach and separate from the insect body. True Cordyceps, when soaked in boiling water, will cause the insect body to swell and soften, the fungal stroma to darken to a blackish-brown color, and the insect body and fungal stroma will remain firmly attached and not detach. The soaking solution will have a slightly foul odor.
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