Cordyceps: The Luxury Gift for Tet

Entering the Vietnamese market just ahead of the Lunar New Year is the luxury product known as dong trung ha thao (cordyceps sinensis), with prices reaching an astonishing 2.5 billion VND (around $102,000) per kilogram, yet it enjoys a strong demand.

Often labeled as a “natural elixir” and surpassing ginseng in prestige, this premium product dubbed “grass worms” due to its unique biological nature is particularly popular as a gift during Tet celebrations.

These cordyceps predominantly hail from high-altitude areas, including Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and India, specifically living at elevations of 3,500–5,000 meters. The majority of cordyceps available in Vietnam is sourced from Tibet and Bhutan, with numerous options accessible for wholesale and retail online.

Although cordyceps is readily available, it retains a status as a luxury good, with pricing spanning from 730 million VND to 2.5 billion VND per kilogram.

In Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung District, employee Chu Thi Thanh Xuan noted that even with its steep price, dried cordyceps remains a favored gifting choice during Tet festivities.

Xuan’s store showcases various grades of Bhutan cordyceps:

Type B (61–69 pieces per 10 grams): 730 million VND/kg.
Type A (56–60 pieces per 10 grams): 850 million VND/kg; 31–35 pieces per 10 grams: 1.4 billion VND/kg.
VIP Grade (18–30 pieces per 10 grams): 2–2.5 billion VND/kg.
The more common Type A and Type B are usually in stock, while the VIP-grade variety is often sold out due to its limited supply.

Recently, Xuan’s store received just over 1 kilogram of VIP-grade cordyceps, which was gone in two days, with one buyer taking nearly half a kilogram.

To accommodate customers, the store sells smaller quantities (10 grams, 50 grams, 100 grams) of the valuable product, making it easier to purchase as gifts.

“With Tet nearing, we’ve experienced a tremendous increase in orders, managing 40–50 requests some days,” Xuan explained.

In a similar vein, Trinh Thi Mai, who manages a shop in Hanoi’s Tay Ho District, shared that they frequently sell out of VIP-grade cordyceps (priced between 2.2 and 2.55 billion VND/kg). These premium items are highly sought after as gifts, often exceeding available stock.

For personal consumption, most customers opt for the more affordable Type A and Type B varieties or broken pieces sold at reduced rates. For instance, broken cordyceps retail at 6.5 million VND for a 10-gram box and are commonly used in honey infusions or tea brews.

Xuan stressed the need for buyers to check the quality and certificates of such pricey products to steer clear of counterfeit cordyceps, which can be tricky to distinguish from genuine ones without proper knowledge.

Distinct characteristics set apart Bhutan and Tibetan cordyceps:

Bhutan Cordyceps: Displays a yellowish-brown exterior, red-brown ends, and a close connection between the fungal stem and worm body. It has three folds, and when chewed, presents a texture reminiscent of soybean or rice grain, with flavors akin to chicken or dried squid.

Tibetan Cordyceps: Noted for its golden head, a white powder under the head, yellow teeth, and golden eyes; it offers a fragrant taste along with a slightly sticky texture when chewed.

Experts caution against sophisticated counterfeit cordyceps that can be produced from flour or insect powder mixed with glue, mimicking the real thing closely.