Snow Fungus (Tremella fuciformis): A UK Buyer's Guide

Snow Fungus, also known as white fungus, silver ear or by its botanical name Tremella fuciformis, is one of the most distinctive mushrooms you can keep in the kitchen cupboard. If you have searched for "snow fungus UK" or "where to buy snow fungus", this guide covers what it is, how it is used in the kitchen, how to use the extract, and what the label of a Snow Fungus extract sold in the UK should tell you.

What is Snow Fungus?

Tremella fuciformis is a pale, translucent mushroom with soft, frilled fronds that look like a chrysanthemum flower or a tuft of snow, which is where the name comes from. Unlike firm, meaty mushrooms, Snow Fungus has a delicate, jelly-like texture and a very mild taste. In the wild it grows on the branches of broadleaf trees in warm, humid climates. Today it is widely cultivated, most of all in China's Fujian province.

Origins and heritage

Snow Fungus has been cooked in Asian kitchens for centuries. Before cultivation it was gathered from the wild and scarce, so it was an expensive ingredient kept for banquets and special occasions. Cultivation methods developed from the late nineteenth century onwards made it far more widely available, and it remains a familiar ingredient across China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia today.

Culinary use

In the kitchen, Snow Fungus is best known as the star of tong sui, the sweet Cantonese dessert soups, where it is simmered with ingredients such as rock sugar, goji berries, red dates, lotus seeds or pear. Because its flavour is so mild, it takes on the character of whatever it is cooked with, while adding its signature silky, gelatinous texture. It also appears in savoury soups and drinks.

How to use Snow Fungus extract

Whole dried Snow Fungus needs soaking and long simmering. A concentrated extract powder is far quicker to use: stir it into a hot or cold drink or into food. Our suggested serving is 2 g, about one level teaspoon, once or twice a day. It goes into a drink, a smoothie, porridge, a soup or a dessert, and it is mild and near neutral in flavour, so it does not take over. Reseal the pouch after use and keep it dry, away from sunlight and heat.

Powder or capsules?

Both formats contain the same Organic Snow Fungus (Tremella fuciformis) hot-water extract, 8-10:1. The choice comes down to routine:

• Powder suits you if you make mushroom coffees, lattes or smoothies and like to measure your own serving. Our Organic Snow Fungus Mushroom Extract Powder comes in a 60 g recyclable, resealable pouch, 30 servings.
• Capsules are the pre-measured option. No mixing, no mess, easy to take while travelling. Our Organic Snow Fungus Mushroom Extract Capsules come as 90 capsules with 400 mg of extract in each, in a hypromellose (plant cellulose) shell. Take three once or twice a day with water, with or without food.

What a Snow Fungus extract label should tell you

A Snow Fungus extract sold in the UK should state these things on its label or product page. Ours are on the Specification tab of each product page.

• The species name. Tremella fuciformis, so you know it is Snow Fungus and not another Tremella species.
• The part used. Whether the extract is made from the fruiting body (the mushroom itself) or from mycelium grown on grain. Ours is made from the fruiting body.
• The extraction method. How the extract was made. Ours is a hot-water extract.
• The extract ratio. 8-10:1 means eight to ten kilograms of mushroom go into each kilogram of extract. Ours is 8-10:1.
• The ingredient list. Ours is one line: Organic Snow Fungus (Tremella fuciformis) hot-water extract, 8-10:1, 100%. The capsules add a hypromellose (plant cellulose) shell. Both are free from genetically modified organisms and free from dairy, gluten, corn and soya.
• Organic. Look for the word organic on the label. Ours is organic.
• The serving size. A stated serving and how often to take it. Ours is 2 g of powder, or 3 capsules, once or twice a day, 30 servings per pouch.
• Quality testing. Where the product is quality tested. Ours is quality tested in the UK.

Where to buy Snow Fungus in the UK

Whole dried Snow Fungus is sold in many Asian supermarkets and online Asian grocers in the UK, usually as bags of dried pieces for cooking. For the extract, in powder or capsules, you can order directly from us with UK delivery. Browse our Snow Fungus collection to compare the powder and capsules side by side, or explore the rest of our organic mushroom extract range.

Food supplements should be part of a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, not a substitute for one. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before use.