Darwin would have tried. It is said that during his voyage aboard the Beagle, Charles Darwin threw every exotic animal he found into the pot. Óscar López-Fonseca invites us to explore the world’s cuisines with culinary experiences that the father of the theory of evolution would certainly have dared to try on this journey.
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In every country there is a food, drink or plant extract with the supposed ability to stimulate desire or even improve sexual performance. They are aphrodisiacs that have been known and consumed since time immemorial, although to date science has not proven the real effectiveness of any of them. Bhutan, the last kingdom of the Himalayas, could not be less, especially when it is the only state that uses the happiness index of its slightly less than 800,000 inhabitants to measure prosperity. It is already known that sex and happiness usually go hand in hand. In this case, the locals have found their special libido stimulant in valleys that lie between 3,500 and 5,000 meters above sea level, just below the so-called snow line, where it is permanent. There, the Bhutanese dig the earth in search of Cordyceps sinensis, a fungal parasite of insects that will be familiar to more than one from the video game The Last of Us, which was adapted into a television series of the same name depicting an apocalyptic world in which men turn into zombies when they are infected by this very peculiar organism.
However, neither Cordyceps sinensis – which in Bhutan is called Yartsa goenbub, something like “summer grass winter worm” – nor any other fungus in the same family pose any real danger to humans, television writers said. But they are for some insects. In this case they are the larvae of a species of moth that occurs in this region of Asia. Once the fungus is infected with its spores, it parasitizes the worms underground, depriving them of all nutrients until they literally dry out, killing them. The Cordyceps sinensis then unfurls a thread between three and ten centimeters from the animal’s head to rise to the surface and continue its life cycle. Then people come into play. Bhutanese embark on a search for the cure, digging in the highlands between April and August to generate important additional income, as it is a highly valued product in both Tibetan and Chinese medicine, its use since has been proven for centuries. more than 2,000 years.
The mushroom is offered in Bhutan in countless formats, from capsules with its extract to the mushroom itself and the mummified larva, which can be used as an ingredient in all kinds of recipes.Óscar López-Fonseca
Those who praise these supposed benefits claim that it prevents diabetes, reduces the risk of dementia, has an antidepressant effect and strengthens the immune system, as well as increasing vitality and lowering cholesterol levels. But in addition to these purported health benefits, Cordyceps sinensis is also known to boost libido in both men and women, which has made it the national aphrodisiac in a country where one of the religious references is the Lama Drukpa Kunley, a Buddhist monk who lived between the 15th and 16th centuries and was known as “the divine fool” because he loved wine, sexually satisfying women and displaying his male member in public. In his memory, the doors of many houses in the country are decorated with drawings of penises in full ejaculation. The Bhutanese claim that they drive away evil spirits and attract fertility.
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The mushroom is offered in Bhutan in countless formats, from capsules with its extract to the mushroom itself and the mummified larva, which can be used as an ingredient in all kinds of recipes, such as meat stews, or added to local dishes, beer, chang . According to locals, when consumed raw, it has a sweet taste with earthy notes and a bitter aftertaste. In the context of this gastronomic versatility, the size of the mushroom becomes increasingly important. The larger the larva – those that retain the reddish eye and rings on the body are considered high quality – the higher the price. The upper category products weighing around 0.33 grams cost 60 euros per gram.
The doors of many country houses are flanked with drawings of penises in full ejaculation. The Bhutanese claim that they drive away evil spirits and attract fertility. Oscar Lopez Fonseca
However, there are also cheaper formats for enjoying the sought-after mushroom, such as infusions in which the supposed aphrodisiac (with a proportion of 0.5%) is mixed with green tea from neighboring India and packaged in classic paper bags put in hot water. The color of the resulting drink is slightly brownish and the taste is no different from green tea, since the taste of Cordyceps sinensis is very subtle. To achieve the purported health and libido benefits, Bhutanese recommend not adding milk or sugar. If you want to sweeten it, do it with a small spoonful of honey or temper it with fresh mint leaves. The box contains 25 sachets and even though I followed the instructions, I’m still waiting for the results.
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