1.
matsutake mushroom
A highly prized wild mushroom that grows in association with pine trees. Known for its distinctive spicy-aromatic scent, it is considered a luxury food in Japan and is closely associated with autumn.
Cultural note
松茸 is one of the most expensive mushrooms in the world. Domestic Japanese 松茸 can cost tens of thousands of yen per kilogram. It cannot be commercially cultivated and must be harvested from wild pine forests, which contributes to its high price and cultural prestige.
Common dishes
- 松茸ご飯: matsutake rice (rice cooked with matsutake)
- 松茸の土瓶蒸し: matsutake in an earthenware teapot broth
- 焼き松茸: grilled matsutake
Etymology
松 (pine) + 茸 (mushroom) — literally "pine mushroom," because it grows in symbiosis with pine tree roots.