The Quest for Gucchi: A Journey to Harvest India’s Priciest Mushroom and Educate Youngsters

Gucchi, a rare and costly mushroom species, thrives in northern India, particularly in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. Though some cultivate it, Gucchi naturally flourishes in forests during the rainy months of March and April. Villagers collect these mushrooms from nearby forests to cook and sell, taking advantage of their high market demand and price. Abdul Rashid, from Budgam village, has been gathering Gucchi for several years and teaching this art of cultivation to the younger generation.