‘Khukhadi’ is the king of the vegetable being the most expensive of all

Ranchi: Khukhadi is the most expensive seasonal vegetable sold during the rainy season. What makes it unique is, In India it is sold only in two states- Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh having different names. Khukhadi provides high protein nourishment. The price of Khukhadi is 1200 Rs. per Kg.

Khukhadi are basically mushrooms. In Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand they are known as Khukdi and Rugda respectively. During the rainy season, these grow naturally in the forest of Balrampur, Surajpur, Surguja and Korba district. If not consumed within 2 days they become perishable.

The inhabitants of the forest collect these mushrooms and sell them to the intermediaries. There onwards they are sold in the markets of big cities in  Chattisgarh such as Ambikapur. These middlemen purchase at low price and sell it for 1000 to 1200 rupees per kg. It supplies about five quintals in Ambikapur market daily during the season.

Khukri is a type of a mushroom. There are many species and varieties of khukdi. Long stalked sorva khukdi is preferred more. It is colloquially called Bhudu Khukdi. Bhudu means earthen house or mound built by termites, where it grows in rain. It increases immunity in the body.

During the rainy season, Indian observe sawan in which they don’t eat meat. The best alternative to it is remotely grown mushroom khukhadi as it has rich protein content. This is also used in medicines. It is claimed that when lighting strikes earth, the white Khukhadi mushroom naturally grows from earth.