1、看產(chan)地(di):我國石(shi)(shi)斛主(zhu)要產(chan)于安徽(hui)大(da)別山(shan)區的霍山(shan)、浙江東(dong)部(bu)的鄞(yin)縣、福建西(xi)部(bu)的寧化(hua)、廣西(xi)西(xi)北部(bu)的天峨、云南東(dong)南部(bu)的石(shi)(shi)屏(ping)等地(di),其(qi)中尤(you)以霍山(shan)石(shi)(shi)斛出(chu)名。
2、看等(deng)(deng)級(ji)(ji):石斛(hu)(hu)一(yi)般分為五(wu)個等(deng)(deng)級(ji)(ji),其中特等(deng)(deng)一(yi)級(ji)(ji)鐵皮石斛(hu)(hu)為仿野生種(zhong)植(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)經過(guo)任何人(ren)(ren)工(gong)干預和管理,品質上與(yu)野生的(de)幾乎無(wu)差(cha)異;特等(deng)(deng)二級(ji)(ji)也是仿野生種(zhong)植(zhi)(zhi),但種(zhong)植(zhi)(zhi)過(guo)程會進行人(ren)(ren)工(gong)干預,品質次之;一(yi)級(ji)(ji)、二級(ji)(ji)、三(san)級(ji)(ji)石斛(hu)(hu)則為大(da)棚種(zhong)植(zhi)(zhi),品質相對較差(cha)。
3、看年份:石斛(hu)并不是(shi)生(sheng)長年限(xian)越(yue)久越(yue)好,生(sheng)長年限(xian)太早的石斛(hu)不成(cheng)(cheng)熟(shu),有(you)效成(cheng)(cheng)分還(huan)沒完全(quan)形成(cheng)(cheng);而(er)太成(cheng)(cheng)熟(shu)的石斛(hu),有(you)效成(cheng)(cheng)分又流失了(le),一般(ban)來說(shuo),三至(zhi)四年的石斛(hu)營(ying)養(yang)成(cheng)(cheng)分沉淀(dian)高,藥(yao)用價值也(ye)最高。
4、選軟(ruan)腳還是硬(ying)腳:軟(ruan)腳石(shi)斛肥壯通透,中間粗(cu)兩頭細,莖條(tiao)柔軟(ruan)、味甘、黏(nian)性(xing)大(da),富含活性(xing)多(duo)糖,可(ke)以鮮(xian)吃(chi)、煲湯(tang)、泡酒、煮水(shui)等;而硬(ying)腳石(shi)斛的莖條(tiao)偏(pian)硬(ying),黏(nian)性(xing)偏(pian)小,多(duo)糖含量低,一般只用來煮水(shui)或煲湯(tang)。