Tibetan Nagqu Cordyceps Herbal Gift from the 4,500m Snow Plateau

“Winter worm” refers to bat moth larvae dormant in the soil, while “summer grass” refers to a fungus that parasitizes and sprouts from it. Born in the snowy lands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at 4,500 meters, it is nurtured through severe cold. Ancient people described it as “a worm in winter and a grass in summer—one thing that seems to combine animal and plant.” The Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica recorded it as “nourishing essence and marrow, supporting the lungs and kidneys.” Tongrentang selects cordyceps from Nagqu, Tibet, with plump bodies, gradually colored grass tips, proper color, and rich aroma. One fresh cordyceps is described as carrying the nutrition of three dried ones, a precious gift from the snowy plateau symbolizing the harmony of yin and yang.