Cordyceps Militaris: What It Is, How It Differs From Sinensis, and What Goes in Ours
"Cordyceps" is one of the most confusing words on a supplement shelf. It gets used for a large group of fungi, for one famously expensive wild species from the Himalayas, for a lab-fermented mycelium, and for the bright orange mushroom you will find in most modern cordyceps products. These are not the same thing, and the label doesn't always tell you which one you are buying.
This guide untangles it. It covers what Cordyceps militaris is, how it differs from the wild "sinensis" of legend, how it is traditionally used as food, and exactly what goes into our Cordyceps Capsules.
What is cordyceps?
Cordyceps is a broad name for a group of fungi, many of which grow on insects in the wild. The spore lands on a host, typically a larva or pupa buried in soil or leaf litter, the fungus grows through it, and eventually a slender fruiting body pushes up out of the ground. It is gruesome, it is brilliant, and it has made the genus famous well beyond mycology circles.
Two species matter if you are buying a supplement: Cordyceps militaris and the wild caterpillar fungus historically sold as Cordyceps sinensis.
The famous one: wild "sinensis"
The caterpillar fungus of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas grows on ghost moth larvae at high altitude. In Tibetan it is called yartsa gunbu, "summer grass, winter worm", and it has a long history of use in Tibetan and Chinese traditional practice. In 2007 taxonomists moved it into a different genus, so its current scientific name is Ophiocordyceps sinensis, though "cordyceps sinensis" is still what most people search for.
Wild sinensis is harvested by hand, one specimen at a time, from remote grassland. That makes it one of the most expensive natural products on earth, sold by weight at prices often compared with precious metals, and there are ongoing concerns about over-harvesting. Put simply, if a £20 bottle says "cordyceps sinensis" on the front, it is very unlikely to contain the wild fungus.
What those products usually contain instead is a mycelium grown by fermentation in tanks, often sold under a strain name such as Cs-4. That is a legitimate product in its own right, but it is not the wild caterpillar fungus, and it is not a fruiting body.
Cordyceps militaris: the one you can actually grow
Cordyceps militaris is a different species. In the wild it is known as the scarlet caterpillar club, and it turns up across Europe, the UK included, as a small orange club poking out of moss or grass in autumn.
The reason it dominates modern cordyceps products is practical. Unlike wild sinensis, militaris can be cultivated to produce fruiting bodies under controlled conditions, so there is no need to dig it out of a mountainside. Those fruiting bodies are the slender, bright orange stems you see in the photo at the top of this page.
It also has a long life as a food. Dried militaris fruiting bodies are sold in East Asian grocers, often labeled "cordyceps flower", and go into slow-cooked soups and broths, particularly in Cantonese home cooking. They are mild and savory, a little like a delicate dried mushroom, and they soften into the pot.
Militaris is also the species in which the compound cordycepin was first identified, back in 1950. You will see some brands quote a cordycepin percentage on the label. We will come back to that below.
Militaris vs sinensis at a glance
| Cordyceps militaris | Wild "sinensis" (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) | Cs-4 and similar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Fruiting body of a distinct cordyceps species | Wild fruiting body and larva | Mycelium grown by fermentation |
| Where it comes from | Cultivated under controlled conditions | Hand-harvested at high altitude in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau | Tanks in a production facility |
| Color | Bright orange | Brown larva with a dark stalk | Powder |
| Price | Accessible | Extremely high | Accessible |
| In most supplements? | Yes, increasingly | Rarely, despite the label | Common, often labeled "sinensis" |
What's in our cordyceps
Our Cordyceps Capsules use Cordyceps militaris, and we say so on the product page and on the Certificate of Analysis. Here is exactly what you get:
- Species: Cordyceps militaris, cultivated under controlled conditions in Finland. Not wild-harvested.
- Part used: 100% fruiting bodies, never mycelium grown on grain.
- Extraction: dual extracted with hot water and ethanol, then concentrated to a 10:1 extract.
- Serving: two capsules contain 1,000mg of extract, the equivalent of 10,000mg of raw mushroom.
- Capsule: plant-based HPMC, vegan, with no gelatin, grain, starch or filler.
- Bottle: 60 capsules, 30 servings, in recyclable amber glass.
- Made: harvested in Finland, bottled in Sheffield.
- Price: £19.99 one-time, or 10% off on a monthly subscription.
On cordycepin: our extract is sold as a 10:1 fruiting-body extract and is not standardized to a single compound. Our Certificate of Analysis says so in plain words. We would rather tell you that than print a percentage on the front of the bottle and hope nobody asks how it was measured.
How to take cordyceps
Two capsules a day with water. Cordyceps is traditionally taken earlier in the day rather than last thing at night, and our product page suggests the morning. Beyond that, the usual rule applies: the best time is the time you will remember every day. Don't exceed the recommended daily intake on the label.
If you are curious about cordyceps tea, the dried "cordyceps flower" from an East Asian grocer is the place to start. It is a culinary ingredient, so treat it like one: simmer a small handful in a broth or a pot of water and drink it the way you would any savory infusion. Capsules are for people who want a measured, consistent serving of extract without a stockpot.
Where cordyceps fits in a routine
Because cordyceps is traditionally an earlier-in-the-day mushroom and reishi is traditionally an evening one, some people like to pair them, with lion's mane alongside. Our Buy 2 Get 1 Free offer is permanent, so three capsule bottles (cordyceps, reishi and lion's mane, £19.99 each) come to £39.98 rather than £59.97. The lowest-priced qualifying item is the free one, you can mix and match across the whole range, and it applies to one-time purchases rather than subscriptions. Browse the cordyceps collection to see everything that contains it.
Frequently asked questions
Is cordyceps militaris the same as cordyceps sinensis?
No. They are different species. Wild sinensis (now Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is a rare, hand-harvested caterpillar fungus from high-altitude Asia. Cordyceps militaris is a separate species that can be cultivated to produce fruiting bodies. Many supplements labeled "sinensis" actually contain a fermented mycelium rather than the wild fungus.
Is your cordyceps wild-harvested?
No. It is cultivated under controlled conditions in Finland, and our Certificate of Analysis states that it is not wild-harvested.
Is it the fruiting body or mycelium?
The fruiting body. Our Cordyceps Capsules are made from 100% fruiting bodies, never mycelium grown on grain.
Is cordyceps vegan?
Our Cordyceps Capsules are listed as vegan-friendly and use plant-based HPMC capsules with no gelatin.
What does cordyceps taste like?
In capsule form, nothing at all. The dried fruiting bodies used in cooking are mild and savory, closer to a delicate dried mushroom than anything strong or bitter.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Mushroom Dispensary products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, speak to your GP or pharmacist before use.