Cordyceps is a genus of fungi with over 400 species, most of which are parasites of insects and other arthropods. The most well-known species are Cordyceps sinensis (now reclassified as Ophiocordyceps sinensis) — the caterpillar fungus of the Tibetan Plateau — and Cordyceps militaris, which is widely cultivated.
Ophiocordyceps sinensis has been used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for centuries. It infects ghost moth larvae underground, eventually killing the host and producing a fruiting body that emerges from the soil. Wild-harvested specimens are extraordinarily expensive — often more costly by weight than gold — due to limited supply and high demand, particularly in China.
Cordyceps militaris, by contrast, can be cultivated on grain-based substrates without insect hosts, making it far more accessible and affordable. It is used in supplements, teas, and as a food ingredient in East Asian cuisines. In Australia, cordyceps is primarily encountered as a supplement rather than a culinary ingredient.
How it's produced
Wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis is gathered by hand on the high-altitude grasslands of Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Nepal, typically between April and July. Harvesters crawl across the ground looking for the small, club-shaped fruiting bodies emerging from the soil, then carefully dig up the attached caterpillar. The harvest is labour-intensive and ecologically sensitive, as overharvesting and climate change have reduced wild populations.
Cordyceps militaris is commercially cultivated indoors on sterilised substrates of rice, wheat, or other grains in controlled-environment facilities. The substrate is inoculated with liquid culture, and temperature, humidity, and light are managed to promote fruiting body development over four to eight weeks. This method produces cordyceps without insect hosts and is scalable. Cultivation is concentrated in China, South Korea, and increasingly in other countries. The harvested fruiting bodies are sold dried, powdered, or processed into extracts.
What it costs the planet (per kilo)
≈ Estimated from its category — typical for mushrooms, not measured for this item yet. Sources & methods →
What comes from this
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