The morel mushroom is a prized fungus known for its subtle earthy flavor and unique structure resembling a honeycomb. Morels, however, are rare and expensive, often garnering a price tag of at least $30 per pound and are often seen for much more, especially if they’re being shipped.

Unlike most mushrooms in the grocery store, morels are not farmed, although reports suggest China is experimenting with farming them. Instead, these mushrooms are gathered in the wild by a morel expert who can separate the morels from the poisonous lookalike species.

Morels have a very short season in the spring and early summer, and it is difficult and costly to have them shipped fresh. However, you can buy them dried for a much cheaper price, and once you rehydrate them, you can use them in the same way you would fresh ones.