Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Neuchatel

1. Charcoal burner

Most commonly found under beeches in forests or parks, this crumbly mushroom can appear in colors ranging from red and yellow to violet, blue-grey, or even green. Its scientific name represents this variability: Russula cyanoxantha means “reddish blue-blonde.”

2. Blusher

The blusher mushroom is so named because it “blushes” to a pinkish red color when cut or bruised. It is found in many countries around the world, although it may not be native to the southern hemisphere. It contains a hemolytic toxin that can cause anemia if eaten.

3. Sheathed woodtuft

The sheathed woodtuft (Kuehneromyces mutabilis) is a fairly distinctive species that can be found growing in clusters on dead or dying wood in temperate areas across the world. This mushroom's cap has the unusual trait of being highly hygrophanous - this means that its color changes significantly with changes in moisture level. In the case of the sheathed woodtuft, moist individuals are deep orange brown while dry individuals are a lighter brown or buff color.

4. Entire russula

A group of very similar fungi, rather than a single species, the entire russula complex is yet to be studied. These mushrooms grow in conifer forests, where they're quite widespread and common. Entire russula is often found in early winter and late fall.

5. Sweetbread mushroom

Sweetbread mushroom(Clitopilus prunulus) is commonly found in grasslands, and it may be solitary or found among others of its kind. It exudes a characteristic odor reminiscent of raw pastry, responsible for its alternative common name of "the sweetbread mushroom." Foraging is discouraged for this mushroom, as its appearance is too similar to a deadly species.

6. Common laccaria

Common laccaria may sound like a malevolent name for a mushroom, but fret not! This species is so-called because its appearance is highly variable, with individual caps taking on a whole host of colors, from whitish to pinkish to dark brown.

7. Earthy powdercap

Commonly found in lawns, moors, heath, and other wet grasslands, the earthy powdercap (Cystoderma amianthinum) can produce large “fairy rings” in places where fertilizers or chemicals have not been sprayed. Its distinctive stem is smooth just beneath the cap but abruptly shaggy below, giving the appearance that each mushroom is wearing a little sock!

8. Amethyst deceiver

The amethyst deceiver (Laccaria amethystina) is a breathtaking mushroom that pops up from coniferous forest floors. The caps are a striking violet color in youth and are generally flat with a small indentation when the stem connects. As they mature, this violet color transforms to a less than breathtaking grey color, making it quite hard to identify after a certain age positively. Not edible.

9. Red cracking bolete

The red cracking bolete mushroom is considered difficult to accurately identify, due to its similarity in many ways to others of its genus. It seems to occur only rarely around the northern hemisphere, but it may have been misclassified in some sources. In spite of the name, the surface of the red cracking bolete's cap only rarely appears "cracked."

10. False saffron milkcap

A less-tasty cousin of the Saffron milkcap (Lactarius deliciosus), the false saffron milkcap is closely associated with spruce. When it appears in forests, it usually forms a large carpet. Species within the Lactarius genus are hard to differentiate from other, more poisonous mushrooms, and should not be foraged for food by the inexperienced.

11. Grey spotted amanita

The cracked plaster appearance of grey spotted amanita (Amanita excelsa) caps is a common sight in Europe that also sporadically pops up in North America. This species has a long history and has been recorded and studied as far back as 1821. They contain a potent toxin called thermolabile, making those who consume it very sick if not cooked. This species is not recommended for consumption.

12. Buttery collybia

Buttery collybia mushrooms grow mainly on the floors of coniferous forests, from summer to winter across Europe and North America. This mushroom is called “buttery” not for its flavor, but rather the greasy texture of its surface. In the genus name, “rhodo” means pink, a reference to the shade of the gills beneath its cap.

13. Common puffball

These puffy mushrooms grow in small groups on the forest floor. Once they're mature, common puffballs turn yellow and "puff out" smoke-like spore clouds when disturbed. Be very careful when identifying these mushrooms, as their young, immature form looks very similar to the lethal Deathcap.

14. Clustered toughshank

Clustered toughshank has a gregarious nature, often growing in clumps or fairy ring formations. This mushroom also associates with a variety of trees, though it has a slight preference for hardwoods. However, more interesting than the gregarious nature of this mushroom is its ability to become a mushroom zombie. Similar to other mushrooms, clustered toughshank dries up without access to moisture. However, this mushroom has the ability to revive with rainy weather.

15. Ochre brittlegill

The ochre brittlegill is a large and ubiquitous russula that can be found growing in mixed temperate woodlands across the Northern Hemisphere. This mushroom is distinguished by its smooth ochre cap, which may sometimes have tinges of green, brown, or even purple to it. Ochre brittlegills have brittle gills and bulbous, white stalks.

16. Deer mushroom

The deer mushroom is can be found sprouting up from rotting logs, branches, and roots, and while it may have a preference for hardwoods it isn't very picky. Unlike many other mushroom species, the fruitbodies can be found blooming across a wide range of seasons. They have a faint, radish-like odor.

17. Salmon milkcap

Upon gazing upon the cap of the salmon milkcap, you might notice that the color resembles the shiny back of a salmon. This coloration inspired its scientific name, Lactarius salmonicolor. Just as it looks, the species name means "of the color of salmon." They sprout up predominately under the canopies of Fir trees.

18. Lurid bolete

Once considered a member of the Boletus genus, the lurid bolete is a mushroom that is best avoided. Inexperienced mushroom hunters could easily confuse it with the severely poisonous European species Satan's bolete (Rubroboletus satanas) or its North American cousin Rubroboletus eastwoodiae. When cut, the stem of this bolete goes dark blue. Its smell is a bit sour.

19. Golden chanterelle

Golden chanterelle mushrooms are popular in gourmet cuisine across Europe, where they grow wild during the warm (but not too hot) months. Similar species grow in other countries. Extremely popular with foragers, the golden chanterelle emits an apricot-like scent and contains an array of nutrients that benefit the human body. Several studies suggest consuming extremely large amounts may have detrimental effects on the eyes and muscles.

20. Variable webcap

Variable webcap is notoriously difficult to identify due to its inconsistent and variable features, giving rise to its common name. The color of the cap changes as the mushroom matures, which further hinders identification efforts. Variable webcap has been reported as potentially toxic and should not be consumed. Older fruitbodies emit a sickly sweet odor. It usually grows in mixed wood forests.

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