Bengaluru: You would have heard of costly items like gold. 

You would have even thought twice before purchasing a gram of it. 

But have you heard of a mushroom that is as costly as gold? 

Hmm… we are talking of Gucchi mushroom, whose value is Rs 30,000 per kilogram! 

The wild mushrooms are also known as Morel Mushrooms or Morchella Esculenta scientifically and have a huge demand despite their cost. They are locally called ‘gucchi’ in the Himalayan region and are prized for their spongy, honeycomb texture and has a unique flavor to it, India.com notes. 

Interestingly, the mushroom can’t be grown commercially. They are not grown across India. The best place to grow it is the Himalayan region. It is also grown in Kangara Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, Manali. 

The ideal time to grow them is from February to April. As soon as these vegetables are fully grown, they get a huge demand from the United States, France, Europe and Italy. 

But what makes them so exorbitant? 

Well, they are rich in potassium, vitamins, and copper. They are also a rich source of vitamin D apart from several B-vitamins. They also prevent the rise of cholesterol.

The mushroom can also be used to make tasty pulao, Gucchi ka Madra and Gucchi Mussallam.