My Newfound Love for Mushroom Picking 🍄

About a year ago, I discovered a new hobby that has quickly become an obsession—mushroom picking! 🌲 It all started when my partner and I decided to go mushroom picking for the first time. I had always admired the idea of foraging, but it wasn’t until that day that I realized how much fun and rewarding mushroom picking could be. So, this past weekend, we decided to head out into the woods again for another mushroom picking adventure.

The day was perfect for mushroom picking—cool and crisp with a gentle breeze, the kind of weather that makes you want to be outside, soaking up nature. 🍃 We didn’t pick a massive amount of mushrooms, but we did come back with a nice variety. Among our finds were birch bolete (brunskrubb), puffballs (røyksopp), sheep’s polypore (fårsopp), hedgehog mushrooms (matpiggsopp), yellowfoot chanterelles (traktkantarell), golden chanterelles (kantareller), brittlegills (kremler), lacquered bracket fungi (rimsopp), chalk oyster (krittøstersopp), and a few others whose names I can’t quite recall.

Learning to Identify Mushrooms While Mushroom Picking

Remembering the names and characteristics of different mushrooms isn’t exactly easy, especially when you’re just starting out with mushroom picking. I can recognize a few by now, but there are so many varieties that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. 🍄 That’s why I’m really grateful for the local mushroom inspection station near where we live. They help identify and verify the mushrooms we pick during our mushroom picking trips to ensure they’re safe to eat. It’s comforting to know there’s an expert who can confirm whether our mushroom picking finds are edible or not because some mushrooms can be deceivingly similar to their toxic counterparts. 🧑‍🔬

Taste and Texture: A Mixed Bag After Mushroom Picking

When it comes to taste, I have to admit that while I enjoy mushrooms, the subtle differences between varieties aren’t always apparent to me, especially once they’re cooked. This weekend, after a successful mushroom picking trip, we sautéed the sheep’s polypore, hedgehog mushrooms, and brittlegills in olive oil with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Despite using different kinds of mushrooms, I couldn’t really detect much difference in flavor between them. However, the textures varied noticeably. 🍳

The hedgehog mushrooms and sheep’s polypore, in particular, had a wonderful, meaty chew to them, which I really enjoyed. They didn’t have a strong flavor on their own, but the texture added a nice dimension to the dish. I find that the consistency of these mushrooms is what makes them stand out—they give a hearty bite that’s satisfying, even if the taste isn’t pronounced.

The Challenge of Enjoying Mushrooms from Mushroom Picking with IBS

Mushrooms have always been a favorite of mine. I can remember loving them as far back as my childhood, whether they were in a savory dish or simply grilled. However, as someone who deals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), I have to be careful with how much I consume after mushroom picking. Unfortunately, mushrooms aren’t the easiest food for my stomach to handle. IBS can be tricky because it limits so many foods that I enjoy, and mushrooms are no exception. 🍽️ They are high in certain types of carbohydrates that can ferment in the gut, leading to discomfort.

Because of this, I try to moderate how much I eat after a mushroom picking trip. Even though I might want to indulge in a big plate of sautéed mushrooms, I know that it’s better for my health to keep my portions small. It’s a bit of a balancing act—enjoying the flavors and textures of these wonderful fungi without overdoing it and causing myself issues later on. ⚖️

The Joy of Mushroom Picking

Despite the limitations I have with eating mushrooms, the act of mushroom picking is something I’ve grown to love. There’s something almost meditative about wandering through the forest, scanning the ground for those little treasures. 🍂 Mushroom picking is a way to connect with nature, to slow down, and to appreciate the small things. Each mushroom feels like a discovery, a little gift from the forest, and even if I can’t eat as much as I’d like, the process of finding them is a joy in itself.

Mushroom picking has also become a way for me and my partner to bond. ❤️ We laugh as we try to remember the names of the mushrooms, and there’s a sense of accomplishment when we fill our baskets. Mushroom picking is an activity that combines learning, patience, and a touch of adventure—qualities that are good for the soul.

Final Thoughts on Mushroom Picking

As I continue on this journey of mushroom picking, I look forward to learning more and maybe even expanding my palate. I’m eager to discover new varieties and maybe try different cooking methods to bring out their unique flavors. Even with the dietary restrictions I have to navigate, mushrooms from mushroom picking will always have a special place in my heart and on my plate, however small the portion may be.

For anyone considering giving mushroom picking a try, I highly recommend it. 🌳 Mushroom picking is a hobby that gets you outdoors, teaches you about nature, and rewards you with delicious ingredients to take home. Just remember to always check your finds with an expert, especially if you’re a beginner—safety first! 🛡️

So, here’s to more weekends spent in the forest, more mushrooms to discover, and more memories to make along the way. 🍂