Mushroom picking in Slavic culture

The tradition of picking and eating wild mushrooms is prominent in most Slavic countries such as Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia and the Czech Republic among others. Whole families often venture into the nearest forest after a heavy rain during mushroom season, picking bucketfuls of mushrooms, which are cooked and eaten for dinner upon return or alternatively dried or marinated for later consumption.

The ability to identify, collect, and prepare edible mushrooms is usually passed down through generations. Methods can be different from those used elsewhere: the Slavic way does not require identification to species, but relies more on experience and familiarity with varieties that have been collected before. Many people would not consider eating a species that they cannot positively identify using a field guide, but most Slavic collectors would view this attitude as overly paranoid. Some mushroom species listed as poisonous in Western literature are even listed as edible in Slavic literature; this may be because the majority of people do not have any adverse reaction, or because the reaction, when it occurs, is generally mild. (It must be noted that ALL mushroom species cause adverse reaction in a few individuals, even the common champignon.) The relative leniency toward potential health risks can be justified by the fact that only a handful of poisonous mushrooms lead to fatal poisonings and are reasonably easy to avoid, and that children usually learn to identify edible mushrooms quite reliably through live examples, rather than textual descriptions. Also, some species have been shown to contain different amounts of toxins when growing in the New World and the Old World. Additionally, the toxins of numerous mildly poisonous mushrooms can be broken down or eliminated with specific cooking or drying methods, and these are handed down together with collecting skills as part of the mushroom-consuming tradition.   Literature and picking guides also frequently offer reminders to always cut a mushroom with a blade, rather than pulling it out, and to never kick or otherwise destroy mushrooms one does not want, thus preserving the forest ecosystem.

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Commonly gathered mushrooms

The commonly gathered species, grouped by their order taxa, are as follows:

NOTE: Since this page is also intended to serve as a reference for interpreting Russian mycology-related information, mushroom species mentioned in each group are listed at the end of the paragraph using the following convention:

• Latin name (Russian name [transliteration of Russian name] - literal translation of name; common English names, if any).

Agaricaceae

While the family of Amanitas should be approached with extreme caution, as it contains the lethal Amanita phalloides and Amanita virosa, those confident in their skills often pick the Amanita rubescens, which is highly prized in Europe and to a much lesser extent in Russia, accounted by some not to superior taste, but to its relation to the Amanita caesarea, which is not found in Russia, but was considered a delicacy worthy of the emperor in Ancient Rome.

• Amanita phalloides (Бледная Поганка [Blednaya Poganka] - Pale Toadstool; The Death Cap)
• Amanita virosa (Мухомор Вонючий [Mukhomor Vonyuchiy] - Stinky Fly-Killer; The Destroying Angel)
• Amanita rubescens (Мухомор Серо-Розовый [Mukhomor Sero-Rozoviy] - Grey-Pink Fly-Killer; European blusher)
• Amanita caesarea (Цезарский Гриб [Tsezarskiy Grib] - Caesar's Mushroom)

Boletaceae

This order is often viewed as the order of "noble" mushrooms, containing few poisonous species, identifiable with relative ease, and having superior palatability. The most notable species is the Boletus edulis, the "mushroom king", a beautiful, almost legendary, relatively rare mushroom, edible in almost any (even raw) form, and commonly considered to be the best-tasting mushroom. Note: do not confuse the name transliteration "white mushroom" with Champignons, often known in English as "white mushrooms".

• Boletus edulis (Белый Гриб [Beliy Grib] - White Mushroom; Borowik szlachetny, Porcini, King Bolete, Cep, Steinpilz)

The Leccinum family includes two well-known mushroom species named after the trees they can usually be found next to. The Leccinum aurantiacum (as well as the L. versipelle), found under aspen trees, and the Leccinum scabrum (as well as the L. holopus), found under birch trees. The secondary mentioned species, are significantly different in cap colour only. Both types are very sought after, being highly palatable and beautiful, while more common than the B. edulis.

• Leccinum aurantiacum (Подосиновик Красный [Podosinovik Krasniy] - Red Under-Aspen; Red-capped scaber stalk)
• Leccinum scabrum (Подберёзовик Обыкновенный [Podberyozovik Obiknovenniy] - Common Under-Birch; Birch bolete)

The Suillus family, characterised by its slimy cap, is another prized mushroom, the Suillus luteus and Suillus granulatus being its most common varieties, and while abundant in some parts of Eurasia, is a rare occurrence in others. It is easy to identify and very palatable.

• Suillus (Маслёнок [Maslyonok] - Buttery Mushroom; The Slippery Jack, Butter Mushroom)

The Xerocomus genus is generally considered a less desirable (though mostly edible) mushroom group, due to common abundant mould growth on their caps, which can make them poisonous. The Xerocomus badius, however is an exception, being moderately sought after, especially in Europe. Note that some scientific classifications now consider species in the Xerocomus genus as members of Boletus.

• Xerocomus (Моховик [Mokhovik] - Moss Mushroom; Mossiness Mushroom)
• Xerocomus badius (Польский Гриб [Polskiy Grib] - Polish Mushroom)

Cantharellaceae

The Cantharellus cibarius, a common and popular mushroom, especially in Europe, is a moderately palatable and unique mushroom. It is very rarely infested by worms or larvae, has a unique appearance, and when rotting, the decomposed parts are easily distinguishable and separable from those that are edible.

• Cantharellus cibarius (Лисичка Обыкновенная [Lisichka Obiknovennaya] - Common Little-Fox; Chanterelle, Yellow Chanterelle)

Coprinaceae

The Coprinus family is characterised by their affinity to grow on compost, the most desirable species being the Coprinus comatus, a unique mushroom. When decaying, the mushroom decomposes into ink, and hence must be prepared soon after picking and only young specimens should be collected. While being a general mushroom hunting guideline, the avoidance of specimens growing in areas with high pollution is especially important with this family, as it is a very effective pollutant absorber.

• Coprinus comatus (Навозник Белый [Navoznik Beliy] - White Manure-Dweller; The Shaggy Mane)

Helvellaceae

The Gyromitra esculenta is considered poisonous, but can be consumed if boiled for 20-30 minutes and the water discarded, according to Slavic literature, and can be used to supplement or replace morel (see Morchellaceae below) mushrooms, while Western literature claims that even the fumes of the mushroom are dangerous. It is similar to morels both in appearance and palatability.

• Gyromitra esculenta (Строчок Обыкновенный [Strochok Obiknovenniy] - No Translation; False Morel)

Lepiotaceae

The Macrolepiota genus, usually the Macrolepiota procera, and, to a lesser extent, the M. rhacodes are highly regarded, especially in Europe, being very palatable and very large, with specimens of M. procera as high as 1 metre being reported.

• Macrolepiota procera (Зонтик Пёстрый [Zontik Pyostriy] - Colourful Umbrella; The Parasol Mushroom)

Morchellaceae

The Morchella esculenta is significantly less prized in Slavic countries than it is in the United States, and like the Gyromitra esculenta, is considered marginally edible with mediocre palatability. Boiling the mushroom and discarding the water is often recommended.

• Morchella esculenta (Сморчок Обыкновенный [Smorchok Obiknovenniy] - Common Shrunken Mushroom; Morel, Yellow Morel)

Russulaceae

Members of the genus Lactarius, as the name suggests, lactate a milky liquid when wounded and are often scoffed upon by Western literature. The Lactarius deliciosus is however regarded as one of the most palatable mushrooms in Slavic culture, comparable to the Boletus edulis. Also considered as similarly palatable, especially in Siberia, is the species Lactarius resimus and its black variety Lactarius necator. Thermal treatment may however be necessary in some cases. Slightly less appealing due to its bitter taste is the Lactarius pubescens.

• Lactarius deliciosus (Рыжик [Rizhik] - Redcap; Saffron Milk-Cap)
• Lactarius resimus (Груздь Настоящий [Gruzd Nastoyashiy] - True Milk-Cap; Pepper Cap)
• Lactarius necator (Груздь Чёрный [Gruzd Chyorniy] - Black Milk-Cap; Black Pepper Cap)
• Lactarius pubescens (Волнушка Белая [Volnushka Belaya] - White Wavy Mushroom; Wooly Milk-Cap)

There is a Russian proverb: "If you call yourself gruzd, then get into the basket", which encourages people who boast about themselves too much to actually do some work. Gruzd is presented as a very valuable mushroom.

The Russula family includes over 750 species and is one of the most common and abundant mushrooms in Eurasia. Their cap colours include red, brown, yellow, blue and green and can be easily spotted. The Russula vesca species, one of the many red-capped varieties, is one of the most common, is reasonably palatable and can be eaten raw. Due to their abundance they are however often regarded as an inferior mushroom for hunting. Note that mushrooms should not be eaten raw without proper cleaning and removal of all insects and decay.

• Russula vesca (Сыроежка Пищевая (Siroyezhka Pischevaya) - Raw-Edible Mushroom; Russula)

Tricholomataceae

The genus Armillaria, with the popular species A. gallica and A. mellea, being so similar that they are rarely differentiated, are palatable, highly abundant mushrooms. Generally found on decaying tree stumps, they grow in very large quantities and are easy to spot and identify, arguably reducing the fun and challenge in mushroom hunting.

• Armillaria (Опёнок Осенний [Opyonok Osenniy] - Autumn Stump-Grower; The Honey Mushroom, Shoestring Rot)

The Pleurotus ostreatus is the most commonly picked tree-dwelling mushroom and is often also artificially cultivated for sale in grocery stores. This sturdy mushroom can be quite palatable when young. Growing these mushrooms at home can be a profitable enterprise and some Russians engage in the activity.

• Pleurotus ostreatus (Вешенка Устричная [Veshenka Ustrichnaya] - Oyster-Like Hanging Mushroom; The Oyster Mushroom)

Psychotropics

The Amanita muscaria's psychotropic properties have been traditionally used by shamans in Siberia in their rituals, however its use for such purposes today is very rare, despite the mushroom's abundance. Instead, the Psilocybe semilanceata, being the only psilocybin-containing mushroom common in Slavic countries, is sought after for its hallucinigenic properties, the latter being more desirable with fewer side effects than those of A. muscaria. The use of P. semilanceata is however significantly hindered by its small size, requiring larger quantities and being hard to spot.

• Amanita muscaria (Мухомор Красный [Mukhomor Krasniy] - Red Fly-Killer; Fly Agaric, Toadstool)
• Psilocybe semilanceata (Псилоциба Сосочковидная [Psilotsiba Sosochkovidnaya] - Nipple-Like Psylocybe; Liberty Cap)

Radiation

The Chernobyl disaster introduced changes in mushroom-picking habits in the areas of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia that received nuclear fallout. It turned out that due to wide spread of mycelium mushrooms tend to accumulate more radioactive caesium-137 than the surroundings. Special state agencies (in Belarus it is Bellesrad) monitor and analyze the degrees of radionuclide accumulation in various wild species of plants and animals. In particular Bellesrad claims that свинушка (Paxillus involutus), масленок (Boletus luteus), моховик, горькушка are the worst ones in this respect. The safest one turns out to be Опёнок Осенний (Armillaria). See also: Russian joke.

See also

• Mushroom hunting
• Edible mushroom
• Mushroom poisoning

Sources

• Fungi of Kaluga region — Site of Russian mushroom hunter with a lot of photos (with titles in English).
• Mushrooms found in continental climate areas of Russia (in Russian)
• MushroomExpert.com
• Czech amateur site with photos (in Czech)