Tiếng Việt
Cordyceps militaris “Made in” Dalat – A Gift for Health
By Viết Cương
Dalat Newfarm’s Cordyceps Alcohol-Infused Product
With the special benefits from nature, Dalat is considered the most favorable environment for the industrial-scale cultivation of Cordyceps militaris. Dalat’s Cordyceps products have been certified by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health to ensure food safety and hygiene.
Before engaging in the cultivation and business of Cordyceps, Mr. Dang Hong Khoa, the director of Song Bill Company – the brand behind Dalat Newfarm, had been involved in various professions and industries.
In 2016, someone in Mr. Khoa’s family fell seriously ill. A friend introduced them to Cordyceps militaris, and after seeing the improved health condition of their family member, Mr. Khoa began to explore more about Cordyceps. Understanding the amazing benefits that Cordyceps brings to human health, he decided to pursue this completely new profession.
Mr. Khoa shared that since he was not a biologist or familiar with this field, it was quite challenging for him in the beginning to learn and grasp the techniques through technology transfer. There were times when he made mistakes and ruined entire batches of Cordyceps, resulting in losses.
However, he never thought of giving up. After nearly a year of persistence, he finally mastered the cultivation technology of this “remedy for a hundred ailments.”
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue visit Dalat Newfarm’s booth
According to Mr. Pham Hung Cung, the former head of the Traditional Medicine Department at the Ministry of Health, “Cordyceps militaris contains about 18 important amino acids for our body’s development, vitamins A, C, B1, B12, E, K, as well as minerals such as sodium, potassium, selenium, and biologically active compounds like Cordycepin, polysaccharides, and adenosine. It also contains beneficial unsaturated fatty acids like linolenic and oleic acid.”
With such valuable components, Cordyceps has many uses, such as cancer prevention, immune system enhancement, cholesterol reduction, and support for the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, liver diseases, and respiratory conditions.
“Da Lat is a region with a highly advantageous climate, located at an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level. The most special feature of Da Lat, when it comes to cultivating mushrooms, is the temperature difference between day and night, which can be around 10 degrees Celsius. The temperature at night ranges from 12 to 16 degrees, while during the day it is between 16 and 24 degrees. This temperature difference is favorable for mushroom growth. With these favorable conditions, cultivation does not require additional artificial factors such as cooling or humidity control, as is often needed in the unpredictable hot and cold climates of the Northern region, which would result in higher costs,” Mr. Khoa explained.
To produce Cordyceps militaris, a comprehensive process is followed, including mushroom seed production, mushroom preservation, substrate fermentation, and cultivation in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse, with devices to regulate humidity and automated pure water irrigation.
Mr. Dang Hong Khoa, the director of Song Bill Company and the brand Dalat Newfarm
All production areas go through rigorous disinfection systems, including a system of UV lamps with adjustable power according to different stages and quantities of the final product.
There are two cultivation methods to produce Cordyceps militaris. The first method involves cultivating on a synthetic substrate consisting of rice bran, beans, and insect carcasses. The second method is to cultivate the mushrooms entirely on live silkworm larvae.
After harvesting, the mushrooms can be processed in various forms such as dried, fresh, tea, extracted as concentrates, or made into capsules. Dalat Newfarm utilizes both of these cultivation methods.
Currently, Dalat Newfarm has five main product lines of Cordyceps: fresh Cordyceps militaris, dried Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps militaris infused with honey, Cordyceps militaris infused with alcohol, and Cordyceps militaris powder.
The distribution network of Dalat Newfarm has expanded to many provinces and regions nationwide and is favored by customers.
Mr. Khoa stated that due to the growing market demand and increasing consumer awareness of the benefits of Cordyceps militaris, he decided to invest in expanding production with a new mushroom cultivation area, which is expected to be operational in the first half of 2021.
The Cordyceps products of Dalat Newfarm have also been licensed by the People’s Committee of Lam Dong Province to use the brand “Dalat – A miraculous crystallization from fertile land,” which serves as a certification for the high-quality agricultural products of the province.
With the special advantages offered by nature, Dalat is considered the most favorable environment for the industrial-scale cultivation of Cordyceps militaris.
This serves as the foundation for the vision of developing Dalat into the center of Cordyceps militaris in Vietnam and Southeast Asia in the future.