It turns out the “egg” that the man found has a very special origin.
On September 5, 2023, Mr. Seo Gi-seok, living in Hongseong County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, went hiking in the mountains to collect herbs and unexpectedly stumbled upon a strange object. This round, white object, about 30 cm in diameter, looked very much like a giant egg.
Curious, Mr. Seo Gi-seok picked it up and noticed it was growing from the ground and weighed about 2 kg. Although he had no idea what it was, he decided to take it home.
Upon hearing the news, neighbors flocked to Mr. Seo Gi-seok’s house to see the strange object for themselves. Everyone advised him to report it to the television station or consult an expert to find out if this “egg” had any special significance.
The man who went to the mountains to collect herbs accidentally encountered a strange egg. (Photo: Yahoo).
Thanks to experts, Mr. Seo Gi-seok discovered that the “egg” was actually a fungus called Calvatia gigantea, also known as the giant puffball mushroom. In Korea, it is commonly referred to as Daenggu egg mushroom.
This type of mushroom usually grows in deciduous forests, meadows, fields, or shrub areas. It can be found in temperate regions worldwide. Calvatia gigantea mushrooms are typically white and large, resembling eggs, and can weigh up to 20 kg and reach a diameter of 1.5 meters.
When the mushroom is still young, its white interior is edible. However, once it forms spores and the interior turns yellow, consuming it can cause digestive disturbances. These mushrooms grow very quickly, and after a few weeks, they will decay, making them dangerous to eat.
The giant puffball mushroom usually appears when there are significant changes in climatic or environmental conditions, rapidly developing overnight. This species of mushroom is very rare in South Korea and around the world.
Calvatia gigantea mushrooms have been found growing continuously for 10 years in an apple orchard in Namwon. (Photo: Yahoo)
Calvatia gigantea mushrooms are known for their hemostatic and detoxifying effects. It is reported that a large Calvatia gigantea mushroom can be valued at around 50 million won (over 970 million VND). Its high price is due to rumors that it helps improve male sexual function. However, this effect still requires further research.
In South Korea, the first recorded discovery of Calvatia gigantea mushrooms was in Gyeryongsan Mountain in 1989. This mushroom has also been found in Jeonju City and Damyang County, Jeollanam-do Province, but it is rarely discovered as regularly as in Jeollabuk-do Province.
In 2012, a 26 kg Calvatia gigantea mushroom discovered in Canada attracted global media attention.
