Prince Edward Cordyceps Home Appraisal
Before emigrating, a client in Sai Kung cleared out their cupboard and found four or five boxes of cordyceps, of various sizes, in an elder's drawer. Including loose pieces, there were about 200 grams in total, stored for anywhere from two or three years to nearly ten years. After reviewing the photos, we determined it was worth an in-person inspection. We arranged a time to avoid keeping the elder waiting for half a day.
First, check photos for intact body, cross-section, fungal aroma, dryness, and the proportion of broken pieces. If necessary, arrange an in-person inspection. Both positive and negative factors will be explained on the spot. With complete information, the preliminary range will be much more accurate, and you might save a trip.
To avoid too wide a valuation range, you can prepare by: Don't just photograph the box of cordyceps. Spreading out a few pieces and photographing the entire body, the head, and the broken cross-section will be much more accurate. The proportion of broken pieces, musty smell, and total number of pieces will directly affect the purchasing range.
First step for Cordyceps Appraisal: Photos must be close-up
Photos can only provide direction; each piece is verified upon physical inspection. For this batch, we divided the items into three groups based on origin, early harvest, and dryness:
- Early-season Nagqu Golden Cordyceps: Golden-yellow color, short and thick stroma, plump insect body, distinct fungal aroma. This was the most valuable group in the entire batch.
- Standard Nagqu Cordyceps: Brownish color, medium body, sufficient dryness. This represented the mid-range quality.
- Loose mixed cordyceps with broken pieces: Included broken pieces and smaller strands, with poor integrity. The number of pieces and gram weight had to be adjusted accordingly.
Practical Q&A before Cordyceps Appraisal
By examining each piece carefully, we can determine which groups are valuable and which need deductions, without being vague.
To further understand cordyceps market conditions, start with these pages
The value of cordyceps is not determined by a single statement
With sufficiently clear information, we will first provide an initial direction, and then arrange an in-person appraisal if agreeable.
