Key takeaways
- The caterpillar fungus is called yartsa gunbu, “summer grass, winter worm”.
- It is hand-collected and extremely valuable.
- Rising demand has raised sustainability concerns.
- Modern products mostly use the cultivable Cordyceps militaris.
Cordyceps has one of the most remarkable histories of any fungus, from the high Tibetan Plateau to modern cultivation.
Summer grass, winter worm
A precious harvest
The fungus is still collected by hand each spring on high mountain pastures. Its scarcity has made it one of the most valuable natural products in the world, and an important source of income for collecting communities.
Pressure on the wild
Rising demand has raised concerns about over-harvesting and the long-term sustainability of wild populations.
The rise of Cordyceps militaris
Because O. sinensis has not been cultivated as a fruiting body on a commercial scale, attention turned to its cultivable relative, Cordyceps militaris. This is the species behind most modern Cordyceps products. See Cordyceps militaris vs Ophiocordyceps sinensis and How Cultivated Cordyceps Is Grown.