Morels mix an eccentric image with a luxuriously glamorous reputation. They can be blonde or black in color, with spongey, honeycombed fruiting bodies that are notoriously difficult to discern amidst the brush and roots where they sprout up each spring and early summer. In the foothills of the Himalayas, these mushrooms are called gucchi, meaning “intricate webbing” in a local dialect, despite its posh connotations to western ears. Consistently among the priciest, most precious ingredients in the world, Himalayan gucchis have a robustly woodsy character that infuse any dish with a nutty depth while maintaining a sturdy, meaty texture.

Aside from their rarity and excellence as an ingredient, Himalayan Black Morels sustain even greater clout because they have historically been regarded as impossible to cultivate. This may be part of their charm, but as farmers and researchers in China have made stunning progress on deliberate Morel cultivation, they have radically disrupted the global market, becoming the world’s largest exporter of morels. Despite being cultivated, these morels are every bit as excellent as those found in the wild, and they are still challenging and costly to produce. They grow outdoors, in carefully managed soils under canopy, imitating their natural conditions as effectively as possible and retaining their unmistakable flavor profile. These Morels are nutty, meaty, with an inimitable expression of earth and forest, and an umami depth that comes out decadently when seared with a bit of butter. What’s even lovelier about this cultivated selection is that it will ship to you far cleaner than most, avoiding the risk of water damage during the thorough scrubbing required for foraged Morels.

With their spirited scarcity preserved, our affection for these Morels is as strong as ever.

This item is 1lb fresh Morels

Sichuan, China