Enoki mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the winter mushrooms of the Basidiomycetes, Agaricales, and Trichoderma. They grow at lower temperatures and are also called winter mushrooms. Silver enoki mushrooms, whose scientific name is the same species of fungi as Flammulina velutipes, have white stipes and caps, and are small and delicate. They are white throughout and look like silver needles, hence the name Silver enoki mushrooms, also known as white enoki mushrooms.

White enoki mushrooms are another strain of enoki mushrooms that have been artificially cultivated and selected. The enoki mushrooms we usually eat are actually silver enoki mushrooms. Most of the enoki mushrooms sold on the market are actually silver enoki mushrooms. At present, there are three cultivated varieties of enoki mushrooms: white, yellow, and light yellow. Among them, the white strain will not change color significantly due to changes in temperature and sunlight. In factory-based unified cultivation, a relatively single white color will be formed, that is, white enoki mushrooms.

White enoki mushrooms have become the main force in the market, and their advantage lies in the growth cycle. For example, the growth cycle of traditionally cultivated enoki mushrooms is about 90 days, while the white enoki mushrooms can reach the marketable mushroom production rate within 30 days. In order to regulate the production, operation and sales of enoki mushrooms, my country began to implement the national recommended standard "GBT 37671-2019enoki mushrooms strains" from January 1, 2020, and consumers' concerns about whether white Flammulina velutipes are genetically mutated enoki mushrooms can be eliminated from then on.

enoki mushrooms and white enoki mushroomshave little difference in taste except for their different colors. When eaten in the same way, such as hot pot, they both have the unique freshness, crispness and rich juice of mushrooms. Compared with yellow and light yellow enoki mushrooms, white Flammulina velutipes do not have the advantages of taste and nutritional value. Silver velutipes have a softer texture. If they are not harvested in time, the lower part of the mushroom stem is prone to fibrosis and toughness, which will also get stuck in the teeth.

From a nutritional point of view, enoki mushrooms are fungal foods, which are different from both plant foods and animal foods. Like other edible fungi, enoki mushrooms is rich in nutrition, with the characteristics of "high protein and low fat", and contains a relatively complete set of essential amino acids needed by the human body, among which lysine and arginine are particularly rich.

If the nutrient base used in the cultivation process contains zinc and selenium, high-zinc and selenium-rich enoki mushrooms can also be harvested. This kind of enoki mushrooms has a good effect on the height and intellectual development of children, which is why people call enoki mushrooms"intelligence-enhancing mushrooms". However, this "intelligence-enhancing" effect is only found in some animal experiments to effectively improve the learning gene ability of rats, and the brain-enhancing and intelligence-enhancing effects on humans need to be further studied.

In recent years, many studies have found that enoki mushrooms polysaccharides have significant effects in anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue, hypoxia tolerance, and improving cell phagocytic function in animal experiments. This points out that enoki mushrooms polysaccharides are a type of immunostimulant that can enhance the function of somatic cells, activate lymphocytes and phagocytes, promote antibody production, and induce the production of interferon. It inhibits tumor growth by restoring and improving the immune function of the whole body.enoki mushrooms polysaccharides have a good effect on preventing cancers such as gastric cancer and lung cancer. It is also pointed out that the large amount of dietary fiber contained in enoki mushrooms can also absorb bile acid, lower cholesterol, and promote gastrointestinal motility. Therefore, it is beneficial for patients with hyperlipidemia to eat enoki mushrooms frequently.

In summary, whether it is enoki mushroomsor Silver velutipes, the polysaccharides contained in them have many benefits for the human body. As long as they are fresh and safe, both Flammulina velutipes and Silver velutipes can be chosen. It's just that the yellow enoki mushrooms has a strong aroma and a rich taste, while the white enoki mushrooms has less crude fiber and a delicate taste.