I want to tell you that with level of humidity in Sumatera and its tropical climate, such activity is far more interesting to be done here. I want to share my experience with you.
I alone begin learning about mushroom in mid of July 2009, when I got opportunity to do a survey on macroscopic mushroom along with three other mushroom hunters in Mount Leuser National Park (TNGL). In fact, this vegetation without green leaf and flower is very attractive. Although most of the species live only in a few days, in spite of its short live, this umbrella shaped plant gives a lot contribution to human being either as food or medicine.
I was exploring the jungle with two staffs of forestry department in Bukit Lawang, Mr Iskandar and Mr Purba. They escorted us to the narrow footpath in jungle TNGL. After crossing over the Bahorok River, then continued to orangutan feeding site, we reached at Puncak Juwita. All along the tourist trek, we kept on watching many wild mushrooms.
According to one of mushroom hunters, the variety of mushroom in TNGL is very proportional to be written in a scientific guide book due to many various species which never been identified specifically. From this preliminary survey, they are interested to research more deeper about mushroom species beginning from Ecolodge Bukit Lawang territory (covering an area of 20,000 hectares) until the heart of primary jungle of TNGL after Idul Fitri this year. Mushroom or fungus is something like a treasure for the hunter. Even for them, the mushroom is considered as an essential food. Many medicines sold in public made from raw material of this unique plant, penicillin for example.
Nowadays, various edible mushrooms have been consumed. Some mushrooms are widely known in public such as ear mushroom (Auricularia polytricha), straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), shitake musroom (Lentinula edodes), lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), etc. These mushrooms species are available in high-class restaurant. Some mushrooms are promoted as a part of their culinary style.
In some countries, even mushroom is consumed raw and fresh or to be mixed with other food. It is consumed fresh like raw vegetable. One of tips for safety when consuming mushroom is by learning the people habit where the mushroom grows, and watch animal which also consume the mushroom.
Now, the market demand on mushroom is increasing. The awareness of its benefit makes some of people begin interesting to invest big capital for mushroom culture. But it is still limited in number. In North Sumatera only, the mushroom cultivation can still be counted by fingers. Although it is a part of food stock program, but not well socialized. In fact, naturally our jungle has provided us plenty of mushrooms as sources of food. When this richness is made as a nature tourism attraction, it will give extraordinary benefit. Particularly if managed well and protected by strict regulation.
Since a long ago, the ancient Greek and Chinese emperor had been consuming mushrooms because this plant was believed to give strength and health. It has been researched scientifically. Consuming shitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) for example, can help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar level. Even now species of ganoderma mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is used for medicine against growth of HIV virus in USA and Europe. In Medan, a senior biologist has opened mushroom culture and its product directly sold in market and restaurant around the town.
Based upon laboratory analysis, the protein value in mushroom is about 30%-40% higher than in food stocks like rice and wheat which has only 13,2% and 7,38%. Level of essential amino acid in mushroom consists of 10 out of 20 kinds like lisin, methionin, tritofan, teonin, valin, leusin, isoleusin, histidin, and fenilalanin.
In Sumatera Island, we can find five species of mushrooms for consumption and have been cultured. From our brief survey, there are five useful mushrooms growing in TNGL, and now have been cultured in big quantity. One by one I want to explain its benefit for health.
1. Button mushroom is the source of vegetable fat to reduce the risk of coronary block for those suffering from high blood pressure and heart diseases. Mushroom can also be used as cosmetic raw material and skin softening formula.
2. Oyster mushroom is the source of vegetable fat which is free from cholesterol, it could prevent someone from hypertension and heart diseases, help reducing overweight and diabetes, it also could heal anemia, anti tumor, and stop iron deficiency in the body.
3. Ear mushroom shaped like ear, it has mucus which helps to neutralize toxic in food product, and help blood circulation better so the heart does not work very hard.
4. Straw mushroom contains antibiotic which is useful against anemia and hypertension, and also used as an anti cancer. Level of Eritadenin in straw mushroom is known as an antidote.
5. Ganoderma mushroom is useful to ease the influenza symptom, help stop the growth of cancer cell, leukemia, and rheumatic, also could reduce cholesterol level. This mushroom is also believed as Aphrodisiac or sex stimulant.
For some nature lover students (Mapala) who get used to wandering in jungle, mushrooms is a part of survival knowledge they learnt when they were taught in basic training in organization. Do not be mistaken, besides edible mushrooms, there are also many species of toxic mushrooms.
Usually toxic species have lively colors, beautiful and dried stem. Edible mushrooms have mucus and wet, soft or elastic and plain color.
Well, if you have a chance to trek in the jungle, please have a try to look at mushrooms. Or do you want to join us hunting for jungle mushroom in the end of November this year?
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