Huitlacoche Spores ~ Corn Fungus ~ (Ustilago maydis) ~ Corn Mushroom ~ Corn Smut

Description: Huitlacoche Spores(Ustilago maydis) Please note that I am only selling the dry spores. Huitlacoche, also known as cuitlacoche, corn smut, corn mushroom, and Mexican truffle, is a fungus that grows on corn plants and is considered a culinary delicacy. When the fungus infects a corn plant it causes the kernels of the ears to swell into mushroom-like growths called galls. Huitlacoche dates back to the Aztecs who enjoyed the naturally occurring corn fungus as part of their diet and is well known in Mexican cuisine. I harvested these dried spores in 2023 and cleaned them by sifting them through a very fine screen to remove larger particles. Spores are microscopic so a tiny quantity of what looks like powder actually contains billions of spores. The spores can remain viable for many years but will store best in a cool dry place and kept from direct sunlight. One online source describes huitlacoche like this: "Its flavor can be characterized as deeply earthy, but not in the cliché sense in which most fungi are often described. This ingredient has a wonderful smokiness to it, with subtle notes of sweetness coming from the corn’s sugars. Its flavor profile lingers between the nuttiness of black truffle and the savoriness of morels. Its texture, when cooked, is a soft chew that forms from the corn’s soluble fibers." Online sources also describe the nutritional content as superior to corn: "Interestingly, huitlacoche has one of the highest protein contents of all the mushroom family and more protein than corn itself. In addition, the fungus is very high in the amino acid lysine, which is almost nonexistent in corn." To grow huitlacoche a corn plant needs to be infected before the ears are fully developed which can be done in many ways. An easy method is to use a knife to cut into the stalk of a plant and apply spores to the cut area. Think of the outside of the plant as skin which protects the plant from infection, and cutting the plant allows spores to get in and infect the plant. A convenient method of applying spores is add them to a jar with unchlorinated water (rainwater works well), shake the jar until mixed and then use a paintbrush or a spray bottle to wet the cut area of the corn plant. A syringe can also be used to inject spores into the plant, or simply putting the dry spores onto a tool such as a knife or a pointed fork and making cuts or poking the plant can work. It takes at least 2 weeks from infecting the plant for the huitlacoche to grow on the ears, and the best success is achieved by preventing the ears from pollinating by cutting the silk off the ears. I don't have any other growing advice but suggest researching online to decide what method of growing will work best for you. I will gladly combine shipping with other purchases, add items to your cart and if the shipping doesn't automatically adjust then request a combined invoice before paying and I will calculate the postage fairly.

Price: 6 USD

Location: Reading, Kansas

End Time: 2024-08-08T14:14:09.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5 USD