Sweet as Honey Mushroom

When walking in the fall, you might think of the leaves, colder weather, and getting cozy but do you think about mushrooms as well? I went out with a group of mushroom foragers a few weeks ago and learned quite a bit about these (group is listed in sources below). Starting with this cluster in the photo, these cool looking mushrooms remind me of the dancing mushrooms from Fantasia. :)

Here are some of the things I've learned about this fungi:

––They are parasitic and like to grow on the base of trees like this oak tree here

––Some of its distinctive markers are the presence of spore spots, fine hairs on its caps, and can have a ring around the stalks

––In terms of eating, the younger the better with the caps as the most delectable parts

––Like to grow in similar environments to Hen of the Woods, a different variety of edible mushrooms

––Can be sautéed, marinated, blanched, pickled, and are used in Europe

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

Bergo, Alan. “Honey Mushrooms.” Forager | Chef , 2022, https://foragerchef.com/honey-mushrooms-the-pride-of-eastern-europe/. Accessed 2023.

Massachusetts Mushroom Foragers. https://meetu.ps/c/53twt/wywVC/a. Accessed 2023.

Shaw, Hank. “How to Identify and Cook Honey Mushrooms.” Hunt Gather Cook, 2022, https://honest-food.net/honey-mushrooms-caution-and-pierogi/. Accessed 2023.