Why did people in Ancient Egypt call mushrooms “the plant of immortality”? Did they truly believe that eating mushrooms would make them immune to human frailties, deceases, and ultimately, departing this world? Not really. They never had a chance to see for themselves because the pharaohs loved mushrooms so much that they declared it royal food, not to be consumed, or even touched, by anyone but the royal family. Well, the royal cooks had a hand in it, too, I imagine. Thus the pharaohs, who were considered “living gods,” were assured of an ample supply of mushrooms, and the concept of exclusivity was born (based onhttp://www.foodreference.com/html/art-mush-history417.html).

In time, belief in the mystical properties of mushrooms grew – well, like mushrooms! – to the extent that palaces and temples were adorned by mushroom-shaped columns covered by hieroglyphics extolling superior abilities and inhuman strength of mushroom-eaters. There is a theory that some…