The Secret of "Soft Gold": Jin Haisheng Teaches You How to Decipher the Price Code and Identify Genuine Cordyceps Sinensis

Cordyceps sinensis, known as "soft gold," has a high and volatile price, mainly influenced by various factors such as origin, specifications, quality grade, market supply and demand, and sales channels. Without understanding these factors, one can easily be taken advantage of.

Deciphering the Price Code of Cordyceps

The price difference of Cordyceps sinensis primarily stems from its size and grade . Size is usually measured by the number of cordyceps per 500 grams (approximately 250 grams). The fewer the number of cordyceps, the thicker and more robust each cordyceps is, and the higher the price. For example, extra-large wild cordyceps with 1000-1500 pieces per 500 grams are considered top-grade and can fetch between RMB 300,000 and 400,000 per 500 grams. At today's exchange rate (approximately HKD 1.08 to RMB 1), this equates to approximately HKD 324,000 to 432,000 per 500 grams. Smaller wild cordyceps with 3000-4000 pieces per 500 grams are more affordable, priced between RMB 80,000 and 150,000 per 500 grams, or approximately HKD 86,400 to 162,000 per 500 grams.

Quality grade is also a core factor determining price. The industry typically classifies wild Cordyceps sinensis into four grades: premium, first-grade, second-grade, and third-grade. Higher-grade Cordyceps sinensis are generally of better quality and command higher prices. For example, premium-grade Cordyceps sinensis has plump and robust insect bodies, short and neat grass heads, and no broken grass or insect damage; a single piece can cost RMB 80 to 120, approximately HKD 86.4 to 129.6. Third-grade Cordyceps sinensis, on the other hand, has more broken grass and smaller insect bodies; a single piece may only cost RMB 10 to 30, approximately HKD 10.8 to 32.4. Cordyceps sinensis with a harmonious ratio between the insect body and the grass head (the grass head length does not exceed the insect body) will also command a higher price. Professionally cleaned, sorted, and sulfur-free fumigated Cordyceps sinensis will fetch 10%-20% more per kilogram than untreated raw Cordyceps sinensis.

Origin is also a key factor influencing price. Nagqu in Tibet, as a top-tier production area, produces wild cordyceps at the highest prices, reaching RMB 200,000 to 400,000 per kilogram (equivalent to HKD 216,000 to 432,000 per kilogram). Nagqu cordyceps grows at altitudes above 4,500 meters on the snowy plateau, resulting in plump, robust insects with a golden color and high content of active ingredients. Wild cordyceps from Yushu in Qinghai are second only to Nagqu in quality, priced at approximately RMB 150,000 to 300,000 per kilogram (equivalent to HKD 162,000 to 324,000 per kilogram). Wild cordyceps from Ganzi and Aba in Sichuan are relatively more affordable, priced at approximately RMB 80,000 to 150,000 per kilogram (equivalent to HKD 86,400 to 162,000 per kilogram). The ecological environment of core production areas is difficult to replicate, resulting in cordyceps with superior color and plumpness. The long-standing brand effect makes origin an important reference indicator for price. The price of a single piece of top-grade cordyceps from Nagqu can reach over 100 RMB, while the price of a single piece of cordyceps of the same grade from Sichuan and Gansu is only 60-80 RMB.

Market supply and demand, along with other industry factors , all influence the price of Cordyceps sinensis. If supply is scarce and demand is high, prices typically rise. During the fresh Cordyceps season in May and June, the price of dried wild Cordyceps sinensis typically drops by 10%-15%. However, during the peak autumn and winter season for health supplements, demand increases significantly, leading to a 10%-20% price increase. In recent years, due to stricter ecological protection policies, the harvesting volume of wild Cordyceps sinensis has decreased year by year, while increased consumer health awareness has led to a sustained increase in demand, resulting in an overall upward trend in prices. It is projected that in 2024-2025, the price of wild Cordyceps sinensis in some producing areas will increase by 15%-20% year-on-year, with the price increase being particularly significant for extra-large Cordyceps sinensis from Nagqu. Over the past decade, the average annual price increase per piece has reached 8%-12%.

Sales channels also contribute to price differences. Wholesale markets at the production sites offer the most competitive prices, 20%-30% lower than retail channels, but require bulk purchases and consumers to have the ability to distinguish genuine products. Brand specialty stores and reputable pharmacies have the highest prices, as they include brand premiums, operating costs, and after-sales service, making the price per kilogram more than 50% higher than at the production sites. In Hong Kong, some citizens shared that they bought cordyceps at China Resources Pharmacy, where one tael (approximately 37.8 grams) cost around HK$16,000 after discounts. Others bought wild cordyceps at Eu Yan Sang, where it cost around HK$15,000 per tael after discounts, with larger pieces being more expensive. Some even inquired with cordyceps growers in Tibet, where 1 gram of Nagqu cordyceps costs RMB 120, which is approximately HK$129.6. Therefore, one tael (37.8 grams) would cost approximately HK$4,890, which seems much cheaper than pharmacies, but this could be wholesale prices or different grades. Wai Yuen Tong will also offer special discounts.

Beware of low-price traps : Wild cordyceps sold for less than RMB 80,000 per catty (approximately HKD 86,400 per catty) are highly likely to be counterfeit, of inferior quality, or artificially cultivated. Some vendors sell cordyceps that have been treated with sulfur, weighted with wire, or spliced ​​together. These cordyceps are 30%-50% cheaper per piece than high-quality cordyceps, but long-term consumption may be harmful to health. Therefore, the price per piece should not be the sole basis for purchasing decisions.

A Must-Read for Savvy Buyers: Spotting Fake Cordyceps at a Glance

The market for Cordyceps sinensis is rife with counterfeit products. As a recycler, I've seen countless fakes that are indistinguishable from genuine Cordyceps. It's essential to learn how to differentiate between real and fake to avoid losses. It's worth mentioning that former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying once bought "Cordyceps sinensis seeds" on Taobao, only to find that what grew was a small tree, which, after testing, was confirmed to be not Cordyceps sinensis at all. This incident serves as a reminder that Cordyceps sinensis doesn't actually have "seeds" ; it's a complex formed by a fungus parasitizing the larvae of an insect. Therefore, if you see "Cordyceps sinensis seeds," it's definitely a scam.

Basic Forms of Natural Cordyceps Sinensis: First, remember the standard form of genuine Cordyceps Sinensis:

• The insect body is cylindrical, 3-5 cm long and 0.3-0.8 cm in diameter, with a dark yellow or brownish-yellow sheen on the surface and covered with clear ring patterns.
• Insect legs : There are 8 pairs of legs on the abdomen, of which the middle 4 pairs (the 3rd to 6th pairs) are the most prominent, appearing as nipple-like protrusions, all the same size and symmetrical from left to right.
• Grass head : It grows from the head of the insect (about 1/3 of the way from the head), is cylindrical, and its color gradually changes from yellow on the body to brownish-brown at the tip. It is usually shorter than the body.
• Cross-section : When cut open with a knife, it is milky white and translucent with a fine texture. There is a thin black "digestive tube" (about the thickness of a hair) running through the center of the insect's body from both ends. There are no hollows, black spots or impurities.

Six key parts illustrated for comparison: the difference between real and fake is obvious at a glance! Although there are no pictures, you can imagine the difference between real and fake based on our detailed description.

1. Insect body ring pattern :

   • Genuine Cordyceps : The rings are raised in a ring shape, about 3-4 per centimeter, with even and clear spacing. They will not come off when lightly scratched with a fingernail, and there is no powder on the surface. When observed with a magnifying glass, the edges of the rings have a fine "granular texture" (a characteristic of the natural insect's epidermis).
   • Fake cordyceps : Mostly made of gelatin or starch, with indistinct rings, or even spiral-shaped rather than ring-shaped. Some fake cordyceps have artificially drawn rings that can be easily scraped off with a fingernail, leaving white powder residue on the surface.

2. Number of insect legs :

   • Genuine Cordyceps : The insect has 8 pairs of legs on its abdomen, with the middle 4 pairs being the most prominent. They are all the same size, symmetrical, and the tips of the legs are clearly visible.
   • Fake cordyceps : The number of insect legs is inconsistent, possibly only 6 or 10 pairs, and they vary in size. Some legs are artificially glued on and fall off at the slightest touch, or there are no obvious insect legs at all.

3. The junction between the grass head and the insect body :

   • Genuine Cordyceps : The grass head grows naturally from the head of the insect, and there is a trace of "the insect's skin wrapping around the base of the grass head" at the junction. The color changes naturally and there are no obvious gaps. It will not loosen when gently rotated by hand.
   • Fake cordyceps : The grass head is mostly made of plant roots and stems glued together, with obvious gaps or glue marks at the joints, no color gradient, and easy to separate with a light pull.

4. Cross-sectional features :

   • Genuine Cordyceps : The cross-section is milky white and translucent, with a delicate texture and a tiny black "digestive tube" running through the center.
   • Fake cordyceps : The cross-section is mostly white, solid or hollow, without the black digestive tube. Some are artificially inserted with thin black threads to imitate it, but the threads are stiff and unnatural, and fall off easily.

5. Surface gloss and odor :

   • Genuine Cordyceps : The surface has a natural oily sheen, is not greasy or irritating to the eyes, and has a light "natural fungal aroma" (similar to the smell of dried highland mushrooms), without any pungent odor.
   • Fake cordyceps : The surface may be coated with wax or oil, with an abnormally glaring and greasy luster, and it has a pungent odor (such as glue, sour, or plastic smell) or a faint grain smell, and no sterile fragrance.

6. The state of the product after soaking in water :

   • Genuine Cordyceps : Soak in 40℃ warm water for 10 minutes. The water will turn slightly yellow. The Cordyceps will remain intact, without deformation or detachment. The water will still have a fungal aroma.
   • Fake cordyceps : After soaking in water, the water quickly becomes cloudy or turns bright yellow/red (artificial pigment). The insect body may swell, deform, or disintegrate, or white powder may fall off the surface. The water has a pungent odor.

Three steps to practical identification:

1. Observe the morphology : examine the rings on the insect's body, the number of its legs, and the junction of the grass head. If there are any obvious abnormalities, exclude the insect.
2. Cut surface : If there is no problem with the shape, cut open the middle of the worm and check if there is a milky white translucent cross-section and a black digestive tube.
3. Simple test : Smell the odor or soak in warm water for 10 minutes for further verification.

Common types of counterfeit products include: starch/gelatin pressed counterfeits (blurred rings, disordered insect legs, no black lines on the cross-section); spliced ​​counterfeits (insect body plus plant root, with gaps at the joint); and low-altitude cordyceps impersonating high-altitude cordyceps (slender insect body, long grass head, denser rings, and brownish color).

To ensure you're getting genuine wild cordyceps, it's recommended to ask sellers for certificates of origin and quality inspection reports when purchasing. The Hong Kong Consumer Council has reminded the public that when buying unpriced Chinese medicine, they should ask about the price, currency, and unit of sale. Most importantly, avoid having shop assistants slice or grind ginseng and deer antler into powder before payment . This can prevent being forced into a transaction without your knowledge or consent.

Hopefully, the detailed analysis above will help everyone gain a deeper understanding of Cordyceps sinensis, so that you will no longer have to worry about choosing it!

Haisheng Warmly Reminds You:

Understanding the price, authenticity, and purchasing techniques of Cordyceps sinensis is crucial to ensuring you buy a truly valuable product. If you have any questions about the quality or value of the Cordyceps sinensis or other precious medicinal materials in your home, or would like to learn about their recycling services, please feel free to contact Jin Haisheng. We provide professional and impartial appraisal and recycling services, offering the most reasonable recycling solution for your valuable items.

Jin Haisheng Recycling Contact Information: WhatsApp (852) 69035182

(Exchange rate calculation: All RMB to HKD prices in this article are estimated based on an exchange rate of 1 RMB = 1.08 HKD. Actual exchange rates may fluctuate and are for reference only.)