How to Spot Fake Cordyceps: A Buyer's Guide

High value invites fakery. Common tricks include inserting thin wire or heavy powder into caterpillar bodies to add weight, gluing broken pieces together, moulding fakes from dough or plaster, and — most commonly — selling cheap militaris as premium wild sinensis.

What genuine wild cordyceps looks like

• Two clearly joined parts: a mummified caterpillar body and a darker, thinner stalk.
• Visible legs, segments and eye-spots on the caterpillar body.
• An earthy, mushroom-like aroma.
• Light for its size — real cordyceps is not heavy or metallic.

Red flags

• Prices that seem too good to be true.
• Uniformly bright orange "clubs" only (that\'s militaris).
• Metallic feel or a hard core (possible wire/filler).

Always buy from verified, transparent sellers who can vouch for sourcing.