Paddy Straw Mushroom: Nutrition & Benefits
Grows directly on rice straw, a natural fit for paddy-belt farmers.
Paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) is likely the oldest cultivated tropical mushroom, grown for over two thousand years, and it's a near-perfect fit for India's paddy belt: it fruits directly on composted rice straw, turning a crop residue that's often burned into a harvestable food source.
Paddy Straw mushroom nutrition facts (per 100g)
Paddy straw mushroom comes in at 29 kcal, 2.7g protein, 1.3g fibre and 300mg potassium per 100g: a light, everyday nutrition profile in line with most fresh culinary mushrooms.
Paddy Straw mushroom benefits
- Grown from a genuine crop-waste input (rice straw), rather than requiring separate compost sourcing.
- A quick fruiting cycle compared to many other cultivated species, useful for growers wanting faster turnaround.
- Harvested young at the "egg" stage, which is also when it's most tender for cooking.
How to use paddy straw mushroom
Common in South and East Asian cooking: soups, stir-fries and braises where its delicate texture works best cooked whole or halved.
Trivia
CulinaryPaddy StrawTap to reveal a factCultivated for over 2,000 years, likely the oldest cultivated tropical mushroom.