Enoki mushrooms, also known as Flammulina velutipes or winter mushrooms, are a type of low-temperature edible mushroom that thrive in temperatures between 8°C and 15°C. These wild enoki mushrooms, dressed in golden coats, can only be seen on decayed tree trunks in mountainous and plateau regions during early spring, late autumn, and early winter. When large patches of wild 

enoki.

mushrooms emerge, they resemble a cluster of unfolded golden yellow umbrellas.

But why do most people perceive enoki mushrooms as white? White enoki mushrooms, also called "silver needle mushrooms," are another cultivar of enoki mushrooms that have been cultivated and selectively bred by humans. Due to differences in initial breed selection, combined with indoor low-temperature growth and year-round absence of light, they appear white. Because of their short growth cycle, high yield, and ease of large-scale production, they were the first to occupy the domestic and international fresh food markets, making silver needle mushrooms the "enoki mushrooms" in the minds of most people.

However, golden enoki mushrooms can only grow under specific temperature, humidity, and light conditions. Their cultivation requirements are stringent, and their yield is low. Additionally, they are difficult to preserve and transport, which has long prevented them from leaving mountainous and plateau regions. Therefore, for many years, golden enoki mushrooms have had a minimal presence in the market.

Researchers are studying the strains of golden enoki mushrooms.

Compared to "silver needle mushrooms," golden enoki mushrooms have another characteristic in appearance—their stems are darker. This is because the stems of golden enoki mushrooms are naturally covered with dense brown short hairs. The oxidation reaction during the cooking process will darken the stems of golden enoki mushrooms even more, sometimes almost to the point of being black. However, this is normal and does not indicate any quality issues with the golden enoki mushrooms.

In recent years, with advancements in mushroom cultivation technology, "treasure foods" like golden enoki mushrooms are gradually entering the public's field of vision. In June 2022, Haidilao introduced golden enoki mushrooms in over a thousand stores nationwide, with cumulative sales exceeding 20 million servings in the two years since their introduction.

The strain of Haidilao's golden enoki mushrooms was selectively bred from original enoki mushrooms found in the mountains of southwestern China. It took seven years of isolation, purification, hybrid breeding, and over 2,000 generations of iteration. "Our strain of golden enoki mushrooms is selected from the best of the original wild enoki mushrooms. The cultivated enoki mushrooms are robust, healthy, and have a better taste. The growth cycle of golden enoki mushrooms is around 60 days, which is more than ten days longer than that of white enoki mushrooms. This results in higher density of fiber tissue and thicker cell walls. Therefore, golden enoki mushrooms have a higher crispness and do not easily become mushy even after prolonged cooking," explained the relevant person in charge of Haidilao.

Breaking the seasonal limitation to achieve mass production

With excellent parental strains, Haidilao's golden enoki mushrooms have achieved stable mass production in an ecological cultivation environment, unrestricted by seasons.

The cultivation materials used in Haidilao's enoki mushroom cultivation base are mainly natural plant-based ingredients such as wheat bran, rice bran, corn cob, cottonseed hull, beet pulp, soybean skin, beer residue, and shell ash. Based on their different nutritional components, these ingredients are scientifically proportioned according to the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio required for edible mushrooms. After high-temperature sterilization of the culture medium, the mushroom strains are inoculated. After 28 days of incubation at temperatures between 14°C and 16°C, the mycelium fully germinates and is then transferred to the fruiting room.

Mushroom house simulating natural environment

In the fruiting room, golden enoki mushrooms enter their growth phase in an artificially created, near-natural environment with controlled temperature, light, water, and air. Professional refrigeration equipment, cold air ducting equipment, and water-cooled circulation systems ensure that the neatly arranged enoki mushrooms, with a layer spacing of about 70 cm, receive consistent and stable temperatures, effectively ensuring uniform growth of the golden enoki mushrooms.

Dust-free air filtered through medium-efficiency filters effectively prevents browning and rust spots on the mushroom caps. To better simulate the wild humid environment, purified water that has undergone three levels of purification is transformed into atomized water vapor through professional electronic atomization equipment, continuously nourishing the golden enoki mushrooms while also avoiding bacterial growth caused by stagnant water.

Moreover, from the preparation, mixing, and bottling of the cultivation materials to sterilization, cooling, inoculation, cultivation, scraping, primordium induction, inhibition, growth, and finally harvesting and bottle excavation, the entire process at Haidilao's enoki mushroom cultivation base can achieve standardized production without the addition of pesticides or additives, ensuring the healthy growth of golden enoki mushrooms for over 60 days.