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Chinese cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), commonly called cordyceps, forms when a parasitic fungus infects ghost-moth larvae. After infection in winter, a fruiting body emerges the following spring or summer, leaving the larval body and fungus combined as a distinctive traditional Chinese medicinal material. Cordyceps is grouped with ginseng and deer antler as one of China's three great tonic medicines and is found mainly in alpine meadows above 3,500 metres on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Other traditional tonics include fish maw, ,edible bird's nest and sea cucumber, which are often paired in traditional food therapy. To learn more about how cordyceps forms, see How is cordyceps formed? Main production areas of cordyceps Nagqu, Tibet:Altitude above 4,500 meters, golden color, short and thick stipes, plump insect bodies, universally recognized as a top-grade production area. Yushu, Qinghai, Guoluo:Large output and consistently sized caterpillar bodies, considered suitable for medicinal use and collecting. Ganzi and Aba, Sichuan:Insect bodies are relatively thin, price is relatively affordable. Diqing, Yunnan:Low yield, mostly circulated in local markets. The production area has a considerable impact on price; for detailed discussion, see The growing environment is also an important factor in determining the...
