Cordyceps is a complex of fungi in the family Clavicipitaceae, with cordyceps fungi parasitizing the larvae of insects in the family Hepialidae, including both the fruiting bodies of the fungi and the larval corpses, also known as cordyceps. They are harvested in early summer when the fruiting bodies emerge and before the spores disperse, then dried until six to seventy percent dry, with fibrous attachments and impurities removed, and further dried in the sun or at low temperatures. Cordyceps was originally recorded in "Bencao Congxin," mainly produced in Yunnan, Qinghai, and Tibet in China, with a sweet and neutral taste, entering the lung and kidney meridians, and having functions of tonifying the lungs and kidneys, stopping bleeding, and resolving phlegm. Clinically, it is used for lung and kidney yin deficiency, chronic cough and asthma, bloody cough, impotence and seminal emission, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, etc. Modern pharmacological studies show that it has multiple effects including immune regulation, anti-tumor, blood pressure reduction, leukocyte increase, anti-aging, and endocrine regulation. However, due to the high profit of cordyceps, illegal merchants are driven to falsify and adulterate it, resulting in counterfeit cordyceps flooding the market. Therefore, the ability to accurately identify the authenticity of cordyceps is especially important. Below, the editor briefly introduces several common methods for distinguishing the authenticity of cordyceps.
01 Shape Identification
(1) Genuine cordyceps larvae are shaped like silkworms, 3-5 cm long, 3-8 mm in diameter; the longer and thicker the cordyceps, the better the quality. (2) Liangshan cordyceps larvae are thick and short. (3) Pupae grass larvae are oval. (4) Ground silkworm "larvae" are spindle-shaped and slightly curved. (5) Xinjiang cordyceps resembles silkworms and is relatively thin.
02 Color Identification
(1) Genuine cordyceps has an exterior that ranges from earthy yellow to yellow-brown, with a head that is yellow-red, and the cordyceps "eyes" appear brownish-yellow or reddish-brown. (2) Liangshan cordyceps has a dark brown or black-brown surface, covered with rust-colored fuzz; the Di Can cordyceps has a pale yellow or gray-black appearance. (3) Some Asiatical cordyceps have white insect bodies, which are easier to identify, while some are yellow, making them harder to distinguish. Cordyceps made from flour and bean powder has a reddish-brown surface. (4) Xinjiang cordyceps has a dark red to purplish-red surface. (5) Red-headed cordyceps has an insect body that is more brown-red in color.
03 Leg Count Identification
(1) Genuine cordyceps has a full body with 8 pairs of legs: 3 pairs near the head, 4 pairs in the middle, and 1 pair near the tail, with the 4 pairs in the middle being the most prominent. The tail resembles a silkworm tail, typically 1.6-4 cm in length, most commonly 1.6-1.9 cm, while lengths of 5.6-6.5 cm are very rare. (2) Fake cordyceps have an irregular number of legs, sometimes 8 pairs, sometimes more or fewer. (3) Liangshan cordyceps has indistinct legs, with 9-10 pairs, 1-2 more pairs than regular cordyceps. (4) Asiatical cordyceps has 4 pairs of protruding legs in the middle of the abdomen that are not prominent. (5) Red-headed cordyceps has 4 pairs of protruding abdominal legs that are not clear.
04 Cross-Section Identification
Dried cordyceps are brittle and easily broken. The cross-section is fibrous, yellow-white, with clear veins, and has a tiny, V-shaped dark core in the center, resembling a small horseshoe mark, sometimes appearing as a single dark dot. This dark core is actually the insect's digestive tract. This is a characteristic unique to genuine cordyceps, whereas fake cordyceps often have abnormal cross-section colors or lack veins and the dark core.
Cordyceps appraisal information compilation
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Key inspection points before selling idle cordyceps
Before cordyceps appraisal, it is recommended to clearly photograph the insect body, plant head, broken branches, and the outer box information, and send them via WhatsApp for a preliminary assessment.
Kam Hoi Shing dried-seafood buyback
WhatsApp:(852) 69035182
Home assessments can be arranged in major areas of Hong Kong, with on-site settlement upon transaction. The process is confidential.
