How to distinguish Korean and Chinese needle mushrooms

To avoid buying Chinese needles, consumers can distinguish based on packaging quality, information on distribution units, product colors .

Currently, needle and mushroom products in Vietnam have dozens of different distributors, each distributor has its own source of goods imported mainly from Korea and China. Because it is a very difficult fungus to grow, the amount of needle mushroom grown in the country is not enough to meet the consumption needs of the people. One day, the number of mushrooms consumed can reach several tons, while the mushroom production facilities in Vietnam only produce 10-20kg kilns.

Picture 1 of How to distinguish Korean and Chinese needle mushrooms
Korean mushrooms are widely sold in the market.

In order to avoid buying Chinese needles, consumers can rely on the following information to distinguish needle-pin mushrooms imported from China and Korea:

  1. Information of origin of goods stated on packaging, packaging quality, plastic material of Korean needle mushroom are soft and soft, the material is clear and fresh color.While, Chinese packaging is harder and more opaque.
  2. Information on distribution and import units is printed fully and clearly on the packaging.Consumers can distinguish by viewing the barcode on the product, the 880 barcode is Korean, the 690 to 695 barcode is Chinese.
  3. In terms of sensory, Korean needle mushroom has ivory white color, not pure white like Chinese needle mushroom.

Mushrooms are not required to require cold storage. If refrigerated, the shelf life will be longer and the outdoor time will be faster at outdoor ambient temperatures.

Accordingly, Korean needle mushroom preservation time is 45 days from the date of packaging. In the distribution phase, they sell to consumers, for example those who sell vegetables at the market, they import from the 2nd and 3rd level agents and must sell out during the day. Often the fungus cannot be left until the next day under normal ambient temperature. If the fungus comes to the next day, the mushroom base will split, peel off, and the fungus will become tapered. That is when the fungus starts to fail, until the fungus breaks down, it will have greasy appearance.

Picture 2 of How to distinguish Korean and Chinese needle mushrooms
Distinct signs of mushrooms imported from Korea.

Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, Institute of Biotechnology - Food Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology said: The mushroom itself has a high nutritional content such as protein, vitamins and minerals. In fact, mushrooms are a block based on the association of many of the mushroom mycelia that make up a mushroom, mushroom. Besides, mushrooms are very fast foods because they contain a lot of proteins that are more likely to develop poisonous microorganisms.

Therefore, consumers need to distinguish mushrooms when they are damaged, avoid "regret ", and use fungi when not ensuring quality, leading to the risk of poisoning, even poisoning.