Tremella fuciformis

What You Should Know

Tremella fuciformis (Snow Fungus) is a jelly fungus found in tropical and subtropical regions on hardwood logs after heavy rains. It is large and whitish or transparent and produces white, frond-like, gelatinous fruiting bodies. It is widely used in Chinese cuisine and medicine and is commercially cultivated. Its life cycle is intertwined with an Ascomycete fungus, Hypoxylon, in a relationship that may be parasitic, symbiotic, or mutualistic.

Snow Fungus is used in Chinese cuisine for its texture and supposed health benefits. It is commonly found in sweet dishes but is also used in savory dishes and drinks. Cultivation has made it more accessible and less expensive.

Tremella fuciformis is used in beauty products in Asia, said to improve skin moisture and reduce wrinkles. It's known to have a range of beneficial substances, including polysaccharides, that improve the immune system, protect against tumors, lower blood sugar, and cholesterol, and protect the brain.

Nakaiomyces nipponicus and Tremella nipponicus are synonyms.

Other names: Snow Fungus, Snow Ear, Silver Ear Fungus, White Jelly Mushroom, White Cloud Ears, German (Vitalpilze Naturheilkraft).

Tremella fuciformis Mushroom Identification

1. Fruiting Body

   Tremella fuciformis is a white, jelly-like mushroom that can grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in size, larger in cultivated specimens. It has thin branches resembling seaweed, with crisp edges.

2. Spore Print

   White.

3. Taste

   Tremella mushrooms have a rather mild, yet slightly sweet taste.

4. Habitat

   Grows in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as in Missouri, Indiana, and Kansas. It may be parasitic on Hypoxylon archeri or saprobic on dead hardwood, possibly involved in a symbiotic relationship with Hypoxylon. It grows alone or in a group with Hypoxylon nearby and is active in summer and fall.

5. Microscopic Features

   Spores 7-14 x 5-8.5 µ; ovoid; smooth; often germinating by repetition. Basidia 4-spored; becoming longitudinally 4-septate (cruciate) with maturity; 11-15.5 x 8-13.5 µ, with sterigmata up to 50 x 3 µ. Clamp connections are present.

Tremella fuciformis Look-Alikes

1. Ductifera pululahuana

   It is more glob-like, usually less translucent, and features gloeocystidia.

2. Tremella reticulata

   Usually grows on the ground and features a branched, coral-like fruiting body.

Tremella fuciformis Health Benefits

1. Boosts Immune System

   Tremella fuciformis is rich in antioxidants and beta-glucans, which help to strengthen the immune system and prevent illnesses.

2. Anti-Aging Properties

   Tremella fuciformis contains compounds that have been shown to promote skin health, delay aging, and improve skin hydration.

3. Promotes Brain Health

   Tremella fuciformis has been shown to improve memory and cognitive function, making it an excellent supplement for maintaining brain health.

4. Supports Cardiovascular Health

   Tremella fuciformis has been found to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health by reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

5. Improves Bone Health

   Tremella fuciformis has been shown to improve bone density, which is important for maintaining strong and healthy bones.

It's important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the health benefits of Tremella fuciformis, and to determine the appropriate dosages for its use as a supplement.

Tremella fuciformis Cultivation

To grow Tremella fuciformis mushrooms, you need to follow these steps:

1. Obtain a mixed culture of Tremella fuciformis and Hypoxylon acheri from a reliable source.

2. Prepare the substrate by mixing sawdust and bran, or other agricultural waste. Cottonseed hull has been reported to give higher yields.

3. Incubate the mixed mother culture at 77°F (25°C). Start with Tremella fuciformis and then add Hypoxylon acheri to create a mixed culture.

4. Once the mixed culture has grown together, it is ready to be used as the primary spawn or sold as the mother culture spawn.

5. Inoculate the substrate with generous amounts of the mother-culture spawn. The substrate should be a supplemented sawdust-bran mixture with 65% moisture content.

6. Place the inoculated substrate in bottles or bags and incubate at a suitable temperature for mycelial growth.

7. Monitor the growth of the mushrooms and adjust the environment as necessary. Maintain a suitable temperature, moisture level, and light exposure for the growth of Tremella fuciformis.

8. Harvest the mushrooms when they are ready and repeat the process as needed.

Note: The discussion of the steps is primarily based on Chinese methodology, and some background information is necessary for growing Tremella fuciformis successfully.

Tremella fuciformis Nutrition Facts

Recipe: Longan and Snow Fungus Sweet Soup

Ingredients

1. 1 dried snow fungus, soaked overnight until soft and puffed up

2. 80-100 gram dried longan, soaked overnight

3. 8-12 dried jujube fruits/red dates, soaked overnight

4. 25 gram dried lotus seeds, soaked overnight

5. 6 cups water

6. rock sugar or palm sugar, to taste (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut off small pieces from the snow fungus with a scissor. Discard the yellow tough center.

2. Place the snow fungus, longan, lotus seeds, jujube fruits and water in a soup pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the snow fungus is soft, about 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours.

3. Test for the level of sweetness and only add rock sugar/palm sugar if needed. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.

4. Turn off heat. Serve warm or chilled.

Recipe: Snow Fungus Sweet Soup with Lotus Seeds

Ingredients

1. 3 little water

2. About 3-4 big dried snow fungus, soak in water until soften, clean and cut out the bottom hard part, discard. Cut into smaller pieces.

3. 15 red dates

4. 2 Tbsp. goji berries

5. 30 dried lotus seeds

6. About 1/4 cup dried lily buds

7. Rock sugar to taste

Instructions

1. In a 4 little slow cooker, add 3 little water. Set it to High.

2. Rinse red dates, goji, lotus seeds and lily buds under running water. Add into the slow cooker.

3. Add the snow fungus and let it cook. After 4 hours, add rock sugar to taste.

4. Stir until rock sugars dissolve. Serve warm or cold. But for me, it's better to serve chilled.

5. Keep any leftover in the refrigerator and serve chill.

Recipe: Snow Mushroom and Fruit Dessert

Be sure to mix the snow mushrooms and the blueberries together just before serving, or the juice from the blueberries will discolor the snow mushroom.

Ingredients

1. 1/2 ounce snow mushrooms

2. 1/2 cup light corn syrup

3. 1/2 cup sugar

4. 3/4 cup water

5. 1 small lemon, sliced very thin

6. 1 cup blueberries

7. 3 kiwi fruits, peeled and sliced

8. Vanilla ice cream

Instructions

1. Soak the snow mushrooms in hot water to cover for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse.

2. Bring the corn syrup, sugar, and water to a boil. Lower heat and add the drained snow mushrooms and lemon slices. Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes. Drain the mushrooms and lemon slices in a colander. Allow them to cool.

3. Just before serving, mix the snow mushrooms and lemon slices with the kiwis and blueberries. Serve on top of vanilla ice cream.

Tremella fuciformis Taxonomy

Tremella fuciformis was first identified in 1856 by an English mycologist based on collections in Brazil. A similar looking fungus named Nakaiomyces nipponicus was described in 1939 but later found to be T. fuciformis parasitized by Ceratocystis epigloeum, which caused the dark spines. Thus, Nakaiomyces nipponicus is a synonym of Tremella fuciformis.

Tremella fuciformis Video

Sources:

Photo 1 - Author: John P. Friel (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International)

Photo 2 - Author: Leila Dasher (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International)

Photo 3 - Author: Timothy Gerla (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International)

Photo 4 - Author: graeme lunt (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International)

Photo 5 - Author: Eduardo A. Esquivel Rios (Eduardo27) (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)