Matsutake mushrooms are also called pine mushrooms in Turkey because they were mostly found in pine forests. The mushroom grows naturally at the foot of the Cedars, about 1000 meters above sea level in a region in Kahramanmaraş in southeastern Turkey. The mushrooms are picked by villagers in the evening and put in special boxes to be exported to Japan by air the next day so they do not lose their taste and aroma. The entire harvest is exported to Japan.
According to Mr. Zafer Duru, exporter of mushrooms, the price of this product, which is extremely expensive in Japan, is between 85-100 dollars per kilo in Turkey. He adds that this is the most expensive mushroom truffle and prices fell when China entered the market. This fungus is considered sacred by the Japanese and offered as a gift. According to the University of Tokyo, it has anti-cancer properties and promotes the growth of new cells.
