Djondjon (also spelled djon djon or djon-djon) is the common name for a type of edible black mushroom often found in northern

Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...

and used as a delicacy in some Haitian dishes, such as

diri djondjon Diri djondjon (''Black mushroom rice'') is a native dish of Haiti. It is essentially a meal consisting of rice made with edible black mushrooms called djondjon Djondjon (also spelled djon djon or djon-djon) is the common name for a type of edibl ...

. The name djondjon does not refer to a single species of mushroom, but is rather a colloquial name for a group of several edible,

taxonomically In biology, taxonomy () is the scientific study of naming, defining ( circumscribing) and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped into taxa (singular: taxon) and these groups are given ...

distinct species. However, some researchers suggest that the most common species is ''

Psathyrella ''Psathyrella'' is a large genus of about 400 species, and is similar to the genera '' Coprinellus'', ''Coprinopsis'', ''Coprinus'' and ''Panaeolus'', usually with a thin cap and white or yellowish white hollow stem. The caps do not self digest ...

'' '' cf.'' ''hymenocephala''. Species from '' Cantharellus'' and '' Inocybe'' have also been identified in dried mixtures sold in Haitian markets. The mushrooms can be found on the marketplace in some western stores, though reportedly they are sold at high prices — Gene Yetter of the New Jersey Mycological Association and

New York Mycological Society The New York Mycological Society is a nonprofit organization of people who share an interest in mycology as well as in mycophagy. The present NYMS was reincarnated in 1962 by the composer John Cage and a small group of other mushroom lovers and stu ...

reported that he found them being sold dried in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

for around $1 USD for a quarter of an ounce.

Use in cooking

When cooked, djondjon mushrooms give the dish that they are in an "exquisite color, taste, and aroma." Before cooking, the inedible stems are removed from the dried mushrooms and the caps are used. Djondjon are often served with rice and a meat such as pork, or fish. Boiling the mushrooms releases a grayish-black color into the water, which can then be used to flavor and color the rice they are served with, giving it a black color. Dishes utilizing the mushroom are often served in Haiti on special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, or on Christmas. Haitians living abroad will often seek out the mushroom for use in cooking in grocery stores located in areas with a large Haitian population, though sometimes they may use a flavored bouillon cube produced by the German company

Maggi Maggi ( or ) is an international brand of seasonings, instant soups, and noodles that originated in Switzerland in the late 19th century. The Maggi company was acquired by Nestlé in 1947. History Early history Julius Maggi (1846–1912) ...

instead.

References

Edible fungi Haitian cuisine Fungi of North America {{fungi-stub