Ingredient Name:  Worm Grass (also known as Vegetable Caterpillar or Vegetable Fungus)

Traditional Chinese Name: 冬虫夏草 (dong chong xia cao)

• Worm grass is a very expensive, yet highly prized, ingredient used in Chinese soups and teas.
• It is said to treat everything from fatigue to cancer and has been shown to protect mice against radiation.
• Worm grass occurs when moth larvae are infected by a fungus (Cordyceps).   The fungus kills the larvae and invades the body, mummifying it.   In the spring, it grows a fruiting body out of the head of the larvae (hence it has a long, black “stem”).
• In traditional chinese medicine, worm grass is said to have an excellent balance of yin and yang.
• The worm grass has a neutral taste and a crunchy texture when eaten (after boiling in soups).

How do I prepare it?

• Rinse in cold water before usage
• Add directly to soups

Where can I buy this?

You can purchase worm grass from most chinese herb shops

What is the cost?

• A few grams can cost $100 CAD.

Any benefits?

• Worm grass is said to have many benefits, including invigorating the kidney and lungs, treating exhaustion and dizziness, building immunity, and as a general tonic for recovering from illness.
• It is also considered a very potent aphrodisiac for men.

Any precautions?

• Be sure you are buying worm grass from a reputable source, especially because it is very expensive (pound for pound, has been said to cost more than gold!)

Additional Information?

• The worm grass can be eaten along with the soup.

Resources

• http://www.foodsnherbs.com/winter-worm-summer-grass_(dong_chiung_xia_cao).htm
• http://whatishotinchinatoday.blogspot.com/2007/09/worm-grass-aka-vegetable-caterpillar.html