03/02/2024
Did you know that you can go mushroom picking even in winter? Even when the landscape turns white? Indeed, the mushroom season never completely ends; there are just quieter periods. But just as spring weather favors different mushroom species than autumn, there are also mushrooms that don't mind the winter. Of course, this shouldn't be imagined as going into the forest and easily filling your basket. However, if you know where to look and are lucky, you might find something for a nice soup.
So, let's go through which mushroom species can be found during this time. There are several, but I'll mention three, plus a dangerous extra. The most well-known among these is the Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), whose cultivated version can also be found on the shelves of stores. Mainly from October to December, it grows on deciduous trees or their stumps, wood debris, and is a common species. The Jew's ear or Wood ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) is one of our few edible mushrooms that can be found all year round on dead branches of deciduous trees, but elderberry is its favorite. This interestingly named and shaped mushroom is a commonly growing species that performs well in soups and Asian-style dishes. It is also cultivated in the Far East, so it's not surprising if it appears in frozen vegetable mixes or Chinese restaurants, known as wood ear fungus. It's a well-dryable mushroom that easily regains its flexibility when prepared properly. Due to its anticoagulant effect, it is also used in medicine. The origin of its name is interesting, referring to the fate of biblical Judas. According to the Gospels, Judas, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, hanged himself on an old tree - one part of the name comes from here, and the other refers to the mushroom's shape imitating an ear. The third mushroom we'll briefly introduce is also interesting, named the Velvet toot (Flammulina velutipes). From September to April, it grows in forests and gardens, on various trunks, bases, branches of deciduous trees, and decaying wood debris, a common species. Only its cap is edible, and raw, it smells like fish. It is also a medicinal mushroom, but we will write more about this topic separately. Collection is only recommended for those who can have it checked by an expert or know it with complete certainty because it can be easily confused with the deadly poisonous Funeral bell (Galerina marginata), which can appear late autumn and early winter and, contrary to its name, can be found not only in pine forests.
Mushrooms form a wonderful world, which is why we are also enthusiasts of mushrooms - but beware, as wonderful as they are, they can also be dangerous. Therefore, mushroom picking is only recommended with great responsibility. It's advisable to present the collected loot to a mushroom expert in every case, and as a basic rule, if there is even 1% doubt in the mushroom picker, it's not worth picking that particular mushroom.
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