Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Chiapas
Uncover the savory delights of '20' most common mushrooms found in 'Chiapas', a haven for mycophiles with its diverse ecosystem. Each mushroom, distinct in appearance and taste, thrives in specific habitats and holds fascinating culinary potential. Embarking on a sensory journey, this guide will help you understand these fungal treasures that thoroughly permeate the gastronomy of Chiapas. Let's delve into the world of these 'fruits of the earth'.
* Disclaimer: Content feedback CAN NOT be used as any basis for EATING ANY PLANTS. Some plants can be VERY POISONOUS, please purchase edible plants through regular channels.
Most Popular Edible Mushrooms
1. Shaggy mane
The shaggy mane mushroom is commonly found in North American and European grasslands. Some peoples foraged for its young egg-shaped caps, but it has more recently been found to be a bioaccumulator of heavy metals, meaning it pulls toxic metals up from the soil where it grows. As a result, shaggy manes should not be eaten. The mushrooms usually appear in clusters or “fairy rings.”
2. Bridal veil stinkhorn
Bridal veil stinkhorn (Phallus indusiatus) can be found rising up from the ground in tropical forests around the world. A distinctive netted fringe “skirt” descends from the cap along the length of the stalk. A type of “stinkhorn,” the fruitbodies of this species produce scents that vary between sickly-sweet to just plain unpleasant. The odor is meant to attract insects that usually lay their eggs in carrion.
3. Blewit
The blewit mushroom grows in fallen leaves in autumn and winter, sometimes appearing in ‘fairy ring’ circles. It can be used to make a green dye when chopped and boiled in an iron pot. The scientific name, Lepista nuda, derives from Latin words meaning “bare goblet,” a reference to the shape and texture of the mushroom.
4. Indigo milk cap
This gorgeous species is unlike any other. The indigo milk cap, a member of the often-drab russula family, is deep blue in color. Like other milk caps, it bleeds a latex-like substance when cut or damaged, but instead of the usual white this species bleeds deep blue.
5. Snow fungus
Snow fungus (Tremella fuciformis) is so-named not because it is associated with winter, but, rather, because its fruitbodies look like little piles of snow fungus on the ground. This fungus actually inhabits very warm - tropical and subtropical - locations around the globe. Snow fungus does not have much taste, but it is cultivated for culinary use across East Asia, where it is often added to thicken soups and desserts.
6. Fan-shaped jelly-fungus
Just as its Latin and the common English names suggest, the fan-shaped jelly-fungus (Dacryopinax spathularia) is a fan-shaped or spatula-shaped jelly-like mushroom. It commonly grows in wood cracks and it sometimes even appears in the cracks of the processed wood and lumber. Despite the word "jelly" in its name, the fan-shaped jelly-fungus is not considered edible.
7. Silky sheath
Silky sheaths (Volvariella bombycina) are widely distributed, being found in temperate and sub-tropical forests around the world, but rare. The fruitbody emerges from a silky-textured volva, and the mushroom's white or off-white cap is usually quite smooth as well. One of this species' favored microhabitats is the rotted knotholes of mature maples, elms, oaks, or beeches.
8. Pink oyster mushroom
Pink oyster mushroom is a striking mushroom that grows in the shape of an oyster shell. It has a brilliant pink color that fades as the mushroom ages. Pink oyster mushroom is primarily found in warmer climates growing on tropical hardwood trees.
9. Horn of plenty
The Craterellus cornucopioides is an edible and highly sought-after species of mushroom that is usually grouped with the chanterelles. It has a black, trumpet-like shape due to its highly upturned cap. Sometimes called the 'trumpet of the dead,' this is not a reference to danger, but rather an old European belief that these mushrooms spring up over the graves of the dead.
10. Saffron ringless amanita
The saffron ringless amanita displays a orange-hued head. This coloring and the lack of a veil around its cap have given the fungus its name, saffron ringless amanita. This mushroom can be found in European hardwood forests from summer to fall. It has a sweet scent and, depending on location, can grow either in small or large groups.
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