THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Once, they were simply discarded as fungi that were found near plants and trees after a drizzle or heavy downpour. Children who loved to touch their fleshy outer cover were scolded by parents. As years rolled on, the once neglected mushrooms found a place among the diet of Malayalees, as many ventured into making value-added products out of it. Mushroom products don the role of a delectable food item and a favourite tea time snack in the city now. Koonpura near Kaimanam makes some 32 products out of mushroom. Cutlets, samosas, pickles, wine, halwas, the list of mouth-watering mushroom products is endless. Says Jose Prakash of Koonpura, “Koonpura has been supplying value-added products made of mushroom for some 140 bakeries and eateries in the city and suburbs. Most of the products are made of the oyster mushroom that costs Rs 140 per kilogram and it is also nutritious than the milky mushrooms.” The unit comprises 22 staff who start work at 5 am and the products reach the destinations by 9.30 am. Hotels are supplied with fresh mushrooms and they deliver fresh soups such as mushroom ginger soup and mushroom pepper soup on demand. Ashok Kumar from Jagathy who often visits a restaurant in the city to have the mushroom soup says, “In the beginning, I had a slight fear as mushrooms were considered poisonous. But once I realised that it tasted like any other soup, I found mushroom soup delectable as well as healthy.” Still, many mushroom products go unnoticed as they are sold as mere vegetable products in many bakeries. According to S Janaki, who runs the Swadishta Mushroom at Sasthamangalam, “Cutlets, sandwiches and pickles of mushroom are made here. Per day, some hundred cutlets are made, which sell like hot cakes.” For the past twelve years, avoiding all middlemen, Janaki has been running the outlet in a perfect takeaway model. The mushroom pickles without any preservatives will remain fresh for two to three months, she says. Janaki also takes party orders. She also conducts classes on mushroom recipes mainly intended for housewives. An ideal class of 25 students is her norm.Apart from buying readymade products of mushroom, customers also demand fresh mushrooms to make various dishes out of it. Murugan H of Kailasam vegetable shop near Karamana, buys fresh mushroom from Koonpura. He says, “We take milky and shell mushrooms for sale. Of this, shell mushrooms are high on demand and it has a short span of two days. Whereas, milky mushrooms will remain in good condition for three to four days.” Koonpura is now planning to market more oil-free mushroom products like biscuit, cake and puffs too.
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