Cordyceps is a medicinal herb of the Clavicipitaceae family, mainly with the effects of kidney-tonifying, Yang-boosting, lung-nourishing, blood-activating, cough-relieving, and phlegm-resolving. Therefore, many people buy and eat Cordyceps. However, the Cordyceps market is very chaotic, so some people may ask, ‘Which Cordyceps origin is the best?’ The following detailed introduction of these planting areas is necessary for you to understand!

Cordyceps is mainly distributed in the highland areas of Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, Gansu Province, and Yunnan Province, with altitudes ranging from 3500 meters to 5500 meters (the altitude has increased slightly in recent years). The Cordyceps planting areas with altitudes above 4500 meters are called ‘high-quality’ planting areas. By ‘high-quality’, it means areas with more large-sized Cordyceps. Some well-known high-quality original habitats include Yushu, Guoluo in Qinghai, Nangqin, Changdu, and Litang in Ganzi Prefecture of Tibet.

The original habitat of Cordyceps is located in the southwest border of China.

Tibet Autonomous Region has a total land area of about 1.22 million square kilometers. Due to the severe cold, insufficient oxygen, complex terrain and landform, unique ecological protection, sparse population, and minimal human impact on the geographical environment, it is extremely rich in natural animal and plant resources. In the eastern, northern, central, and southern regions of the area, which account for more than 46% of the total area of the autonomous region, there are 43 counties with natural Cordyceps all over.

1. Nangqin County, Jiali County, Baying County,聂荣县, Pili County, Suo County in the Naqu Area of Tibet Autonomous Region.

2. Changdu County, Gongjue County, Bashu County, Bianba County, Lolog County, Jiangda County, Lwzqu County, Dingqing County, Chayu County in the Changdu Area of Tibet Autonomous Region.

3. Lingzhou County, Dazhou County, Nimu County, Qushui County, Mozhuogeka County, Dulongdeqing County within the Lhasa Area of Tibet Autonomous Region.

4. Naidong County, Qiongjie County, Cuomei County, Jiajia County, Gongga County, Sangri County, Zhanang County, Longzi County, Langkazi County in the Nainan Area of Tibet Autonomous Region.

5. Nyingchi County, Lang County, Milin County, Bomi County, Gongbo Dahe County in the Nyingchi area of Tibet.

6. Shigatse City, Dingri County,吉尔隆县,谢通门县,南木林县,白朗县,江孜县,亚东县 in the Shigatse area of Tibet.

Two, Cordyceps original places are in Qinghai

More than 35% of the eastern and southern regions and 17 counties in Qinghai have a large distribution of natural Cordyceps, accounting for more than half of the global Cordyceps production. They are: Yushu County, Zheduo County, Chenduo County, Zhiduo County, Nangqian County, and Qumalai County in the administrative area of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Maqin County, Gande County, Dari County, Jiuzhi County in the administrative area of Golmud Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Hualong Hui Autonomous County in Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Gonghe County, Tongde County, Xinghai County in the administrative area of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Tongren County, Zeku County, Huanong Mongolian Autonomous County in the administrative area of Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province.

Three, other Cordyceps original places

1. Litang County, Batang County, Shiqu County, Seda County, Dege County, and other areas in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan.

2. Aba Heishui County, Xiaojin County, Hongyuan County, and other areas in Sichuan.

3. Part of Gannan Prefecture in Gansu.

4. There are small amounts scattered in Diqing, Nujiang, and Lijiang in Yunnan.

Four, where is the best Cordyceps produced?

The differences between Cordyceps from different original places are quite significant. The quality of the winter-spring Cordyceps from Naqu and Changdu in Tibet, and Yushu in Qinghai, is the best, and the price is also relatively high. Cordyceps can be divided into two types according to their growth environment, grassland Cordyceps in the highland grasslands and mountainous Cordyceps in the highland Gorge. Due to the differences in growth environment and soil, there are slight differences in color and shape, with grassland Cordyceps being creamy yellow, thick in insect body, and soft in texture; mountainous Cordyceps being dark brown, round, and firm. Generally speaking, the higher the altitude, the more high-quality Cordyceps there are, with Naqu in Tibet and Yushu in Qinghai being typical representations of Tibetan Cordyceps. Therefore, there is no conclusion in the manufacturing industry as to which is better.

The color of the Naqu Cordyceps is slightly yellower than that of the Liangtang Cordyceps. The surface color of the Naqu Cordyceps in the Tibet Autonomous Region is more yellow and clean, while the Liangtang Cordyceps is relatively brownish. Other original place winter-spring Cordyceps are either light or reddish and grayish.

The eyes of the winter-spring Cordyceps produced in Naqu, Tibet, are deep brown, while those produced in Yushu, Qinghai, and Golmud are light yellow. Cordyceps from other regions are often bright red or dark red.

The Cordyceps from Naqu are lighter in the same size, therefore, the Liangtang Cordyceps of the same specification and model looks increasingly compact, while the Naqu Cordyceps appear thicker in the insect body.

The Cordyceps in the Tibet Autonomous Region of Naqu are transparent and bright, with a rich aroma of butter, the taste of the winter-spring Cordyceps in Yushu, Qinghai has a strong flavor of flat mushrooms, while the aroma of winter-spring Cordyceps from other original places is very faint.

Summary: This is the introduction to the original place of the Cordyceps, hoping it will be of some assistance to you.