Gucchi mushrooms

• Unpredictable weather patterns, early springs, and above-average temperatures have left gucchi mushroom hunters in distress in Kashmir.

ABOUT GUCCHI MUSHROOMS (MORCHELLA ESCULENTA)

• Also known as Morel Mushrooms, are the costliest among fungi in the world.
• Ideal weather conditions for the great morel are when daytime Celsius is between 15 and 20 and night-time temperatures are in the 5 to 9.
• Gucchis vary in colour from blonde to dark black.
• It grows in clusters on logs of decaying wood.
• They can normally be found on southerly slopes and sunny areas before showing up on the northern side of hills or in the shade.
• Growth is limited to a few weeks in the spring and is found in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
• Gucchi mushrooms cannot be cultivated commercially and does not grow at the same spot every time.
• Health Benefits: rich in potassium, vitamins (including Vitamin D), copper and antioxidants.
• Gujjars living in the mountains are known as skilled morel hunters.