Black fungus is a very common type of edible mushroom which is found in Nigeria and other parts of the world. It grows on trees mostly in the rural areas due to the vast untapped vegetation found there.
It has lots of medicinal benefits due to the nutrients it contains such as Vitamins, Protein, Fat, Iron, polysaccharides and a whole lot more. The mushroom can be found throughout the year in temperate regions worldwide, where it grows upon both dead and living wood. The popularity of this mushroom dates back centuries especially in China were it is extremely popular .
Its applications in traditional medicine include preventing iron deficiency anemia, haematemesis, uterine bleeding, hemorrhoid, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and even cancer prevention.
Culinary Uses of Black Fungus: Black fungus is a vegetable that works as meat but is usually added almost at the end of the cooking in other to Keep it fresh and also retain its nutrients. Naturally,it has no flavor of its own but when Used to cook it tends to absorb the seasonings it is cooked with. It could be incorporated in: Salads, Soups, Rice, Stews and whatever meal you can think of.
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| Botanical Name: Auricularia polytricha- Google image Other Names: jelly ear, Cloud ear fungus, wood fungus, mouse ear |
Health Benefits: -Black fungus contains polysaccharide, which not only inhibits tumor growth and prevents cancer, it also neutralizes the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. It also has antitumour, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol lowering properties.
-Black fungus also contains iron. Iron contained in black fungus is indeed one of the highest among all the vegetables. when eaten regularly it can enrich blood and prevent iron deficiency anemia. In terms of taste and price, it is a much better alternative to pig liver as a good source of iron, containing up to seven times of iron compared to pig liver
– Black fungus has a reputation in Chinese herbal medicine for increasing the fluidity of the blood (same effect as in aspirin) and improving circulation. It is given to patients who suffer from atherosclerosis.
– Black fungus is found to be effective in reducing blood pressure, and possibly LDL cholestrol levels. This can be done by drinking water in which the fungus has been slow-cooked for at least an hour
-Black fungus is a good source of calcium, reportedly containing twice the amount of calcium compared to milk.
-Black fungus is also rich in protein, vitamins B1, B2 and D.
– Black Fungus helps in nourishing the lungs, liver and stomach. It alleviates dryness and promotes circulation in the body.
– Black fungus is a good “absorbent” and “scavenger” of toxic substances in the body thanks to its pectin that can absorb dust in lungs and digestive system and then excrete together.
Names in other Countries
-Nigeria: Erobelebele Nti
-Thailand: hed hunu
– Indonesia: kuping jamu
-Japan: kikurage
-China: mo-ei; wun yee
-Malaysia: kuping tikus, cendawan telinga kera
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| Google image:Black Fungus(Erobelebele nti) |
Availability I love hand picking mine fresh from the woods in the village but it is also sold dry in stores . You could find it growing on mango trees. Fresh black fungus is dangerous to eat as it could contain some poisonous matter, but most of the poisonous matter will disappear after being dried under the sun. Black fungus must be fully soaked in warm/cold water till soft before cooking. This would make it expand to several times its normal size. Trim the stem of the fungus and then rinse to remove the dirt. Cut up into any size you want and add to whatever meal near the end of the cooking so it doesn’t lose its vitamins.
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| Black Fungus |
28 comments
Whats the best way to cook it in order to retain the nutrients
How can u differentiate it from the poisonous ones.
Thank u
The best way to cook Black fungus would be to add it before the end of your cooking(Just the way vegetables are cooked). Other healthy ways could be by blanching, microwaving, Stir-frying and Steaming. Unfortunately,there is no simple way of describing what is edible and what is poisonous. Fresh black fungus could be dangerous to eat as it could contain some poisonous matter, but most of the poisonous matter will disappear after being dried under the sun.The best way of sensibly eating black fungus is to stick to the recognizable specie.
Regards!
I beg you. Tell me where I can get fungus in Lagos or anywhere else in Nigeria. I'm a vegetarian and fungus has been part of my diet forever but from when I was a toddler I know we've always had to get fungus from outside Nigeria. Didn't know it was a local ingredient till now, so please help me out if you can. Daaaaaalu soooo!
Black fungus has been a local ingredient for years in nigeria especially in the east and it goes by the name "Ero" but it's very rare in the west. I'm not so sure if it could be gotten at shoprite but you could try any Big Treat supermarket. They actually use it as an ingredient in their meals…Thanks!
In my place it's called utong ekpu (calabar) rat ears. I used to underate it Oo°˚˚˚°! My mum used to harvest it from d trees in her farm. And I neva liked eating it wen she cooked it. Till one day I went out wit some friends to a chinese restaurant and saw it in d sauce. I tasted it and liked it. It annoyed me that we had to pay so much money for this thing that I could get free of chArge in my mothers farm. Lol
you can say that again….lol. The things we tend to neglect is quite amusing. Those in the country side are quite lucky; what they lack in infrastructure, they make up for with the abundance of natural resources.
can you boil the same black fungus you've boiled and drink on the first day for the second day consumption?
Please rephrase your question.
Hi, if you still want black fungous.i have black fungous which is from Tibet. Its pure organic!
in india where can i get it
This is a new person but I would rephrase that question as …. Can I reboil and reuse the same black fungus I used on the first day and use it on the second day by reboiling the same black fungus and drinking again?
it's always advisable to consume black fungus fresh.
Ajay kumar – try the chinese Supermarket. It is used in chinese cooking.
I love this stuff. Im vegan so love all the nutrional value it provides my family. Normally I make this into a curry dish with tofu and green beans
Or else I add it to Miso soup and other asian dishes. This is a versitile (sp) ingredient since it adds texture and absorb flavors.
Have you thought about the marketing of this useful fungus in the world wide? So that every people can get this useful fungus.
Send me an email. If I can find , i will sed you location.
I always cook fake shark fin soup using shitake mushroom and black fungus. It was really delicious..
Such a cool thread. I live in the UK and was introduced to it at my local Vietnamese restaurant. Its now a staple in my food store (readily available at Chinese supermarkets here)
I had no idea it was eaten in any part of Africa at all. Packed full of dietary benefits, and incredibly tasty. Win!
I made tea with black fungus, eggplant and gogi berries, Can I safely eat the mushroom and eggplant after drinking the tea or should it be thrown away?
yes you can eat it
I've been trying to figure out what black fungus is until now. I know it way back in the village in eastern part of Nigeria but unfortunately i am not in the east presently and i need it like badly now
Most Chinese supermarkets carry it in the dried mushroom section.
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