Phu Quoc people hunt for Melaleuca mushrooms to sell and earn millions

Along Duong Dong market (Phu Quoc city), people sell a lot of Melaleuca mushrooms - Photo: CHI CONG

Returning to the Melaleuca forests in Cua Can, Ganh Dau and Bai Thom communes (Phu Quoc city) these days, it is not difficult to see people preparing their bags and riding Honda motorbikes to 'hunt' for Melaleuca mushrooms to eat, or sell to earn money to support their families.

Ms. Le Thi Hien - a resident of Rach Tram hamlet (Bai Thom commune) - said that to pick fresh and delicious Melaleuca mushrooms, Ms. Hien and local people often wake up early (around 4 am), then prepare flashlights, trees and bags, which are enough "tools" to go into the Melaleuca forest to pick mushrooms.

Melaleuca mushrooms have gray-brown stems and grow in clusters (5-10 mushrooms) close together at the base of Melaleuca trees, under rotten tree trunks. People just need to pay attention to observe and they can pick the mushrooms.

Tram mushroom hotpot with shrimp, squid and eggs in Phu Quoc is very popular with tourists - Photo: CHI CONG

"After sunny and rainy days, Melaleuca mushrooms grow a lot in Phu Quoc. Mushrooms grow abundantly, and people take advantage of the opportunity to pick them to earn extra money. Melaleuca mushrooms at the beginning of the season sell for a very good price, about 150,000 VND/kg, so anyone who is willing to pick about 10 kg can earn 1.5 million VND," Ms. Hien happily said.

Melaleuca mushroom is a typical mushroom in Phu Quoc. After being cleaned, the mushroom is crispy, sweet and has a slightly bitter taste.

Melaleuca mushrooms are processed into many dishes such as Melaleuca mushroom hotpot with shrimp, squid, crab and eggs, stir-fried Melaleuca mushrooms, dried Melaleuca mushrooms braised with pepper and eaten with white rice, all very delicious. Tourists to Phu Quoc love to eat this mushroom dish.

"People in Rach Tram hamlet always take advantage of the season when the mushrooms are in season to go pick them. Staying up late and waking up early but working hard, people can earn millions of dong every day to cover their living expenses. Everyone loves to eat mushrooms, so no matter how many mushrooms they pick, they will sell them all," said Mr. Nguyen Van Quan - deputy head of Rach Tram hamlet (Bai Thom commune).

Melaleuca mushroom has a gray-brown color, has a slightly bitter taste next to its sweet and crunchy taste, and is sold for about 150,000 VND/kg - Photo: CHI CONG

Phu Quoc residents take advantage of the opportunity to 'hunt' for Melaleuca mushrooms to eat - Photo: CHI CONG

Dried and salted straw mushrooms are delicious with white rice - Photo: CHI CONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dan-phu-quoc-san-nam-tram-ban-kiem-tien-trieu-20240522161113775.htm