The Mushroom Saga 

Did you know that one of the best sources of Vitamin D is the mushroom? The skin needs it to remain wrinkle free and acne free. So where are mushrooms grown in India ? 

It was my friend’s wedding. Destination was Taj Bengal Kolkata. After the hello hi’s and the chit chat, we headed for dinner. The pool area was lit up and the buffet spread a mile long, though shaped like a rectangle. And in the centre was the biggest huddle I could see. 

The fare was vegetarian and we all groaned. Before filling my plate, I decided to take a tour. I finally stopped at the centre where 2 chefs were busy preparing mushroom dishes. There were at least a dozen different mushrooms… some I had never seen or heard in my life. 

I asked the chef to make his choice with a cheese sauce. He picked up a flower shaped mushroom called Wood Mushroom and presented me with one of the best mushroom dishes I have ever had. It was soft and spongy, yet chewy and crunchy. 

I devoured it. And slowly took a spoonful of all the various mushrooms that were being prepared. I never ventured from the mushroom counter all night. 

When the guests had retired, I chatted with the exhausted chefs about the mushrooms they had served. They were all purchased from Meghalaya. The mushroom market of India. 

The most famous ones are the black mushrooms, button mushrooms, shiitake, oyster, portobello mushrooms and it is a flourishing business for the Khasis that grow these in the East Khasi Hill areas of Mawsmai, Mawphlang, Shillong Peak and Jingkiengmawkdok. 

And so, the next time you order a Cream of Mushroom soup or butter garlic mushrooms in a cheese sauce, you know that this has reached your table all the way from the Northeast. 

About the writer

Chuman Das is a journalist who has travelled far and wide. Her experiences are personal and in depth. She directs digital ad films and is a content developer.