Yet matsutake grown domestically in Japan can fetch prices that rival black truffles – about ¥15,000 per 100g (¥150,000 for 1kg). Matsutake have been a delicacy since ancient times in Japan ...

Matsutake — “pine mushroom” in Japanese — are prized in many other Asian countries for their scarcity and distinct spicy flavor, which comes with a tinge of cinnamon and cypress.

However, with just US$5 a pound paid recently for the best-grade raw matsutake mushrooms, the market has just about crashed into the dirt. For the truffle of Asia, as the matsutake has been called ...

TAMBASASAYAMA, Hyogo -- Three matsutake mushrooms sold for the bidding price of 930,000 yen (about $6,200) at the first auction of the season here on ...