MATSUTAKE
Shipping
Go on an expedition with a local guide in search of matsutake mushrooms.
Among the multitude of existing mushroom species, one stands out for its unique taste and aroma, particularly prized in Japan where this delicacy, often given as a gift, is comparable to the truffle. This mushroom is the matsutake!
Harvesting takes place from the end of August until the first snows. The most sought-after form of matsutake is when it is still in its bud stage.
In the boreal forest, matsutake is found at the base of jack pines over 60 years old. This fungus is symbiotic with the jack pine, hence its name in Japanese matsu=pin take=fungus, therefore "pine fungus".
Matsutake is an important food source not only for insects, but also for mice, voles, hares and caribou .
Its large size and particularly meaty white flesh promise a grand feast. Some even attribute aphrodisiac properties to it.
But it is above all its aroma that delights enthusiasts. Earthy and spicy, it contains scents of pine, pepper and cinnamon.
In Japan, matsutake mushrooms are frequently used to enhance the flavor of soup or a simple bowl of white rice. They can also be prepared in countless ways: grilled, tempura-style, or served with seafood or vegetables.
Come and stay at the Eco-lodges of Lake Matagami!
Enjoy a relaxing moment in our facilities with SPA and SAUNA.
Discover our local area and set off in search of this "Diamond of the Mountains" accompanied by a local guide.
In Japan, this mushroom is becoming rare and is no longer sufficient to meet consumer demand. This explains the exorbitant price that a kilo of matsutake mushrooms can reach in the archipelago.
The Japanese have been fond of this mushroom for millennia. Traces of matsutake mushrooms have been discovered in ruins from the Jomon period (between 11,500 and 1,000 BC).
Still considered today as the "Diamond of the Mountains", the matsutake was once reserved for emperors (shoguns) and samurai.
Poems dating from the period between 710 and 1192 relating to the importance of this fungus have been found.
