Edible Blewit Mushrooms

Ken — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 12:00:49 +0000

Over the last couple of years I’ve been expanding my awareness of edible mushrooms. I am fortunate to have two mentors who have shared their knowledge and been my go-to folks for positive identification. Although I may not be as pro-active as some foragers I have often found mushrooms on my path of outdoor activities. Recently I observed some interesting mushrooms that were pale lavender or lilac in color that peaked my interest. Coincidentally my friend on social media in a neighboring state posted her find of “Blewit” mushrooms that looked exactly like my discovery so I sent photos of my find to her for identification. After her positive response I knew that I wanted to know more.

Blewit mushrooms have a pale color, often described as blue, lavender, lilac, or mauve, sometimes with a light beige color mixed in, especially as they mature. They often grow in small groups but can also grow as a single mushroom. Their lavender color sets them apart in appearance from similar mushrooms. They have a simple cap, sometimes wavy, a stock, and purple gills. I found mine pushing their way up through landscape mulch. They are known as cooler weather mushrooms that can be found later in the year than other edibles.

I also sent photos to my mentors who confirmed their identification, but because they didn’t actually see the Blewits in person I decided to do a spore print over night. When I do a spore print I cut off the cap and place it gill-side down on top of a sheet of paper that has a black side and white side, that way the spores will be revealed whether they are light or dark in color. Blewits leave a light pinkish/beige print vs. a toxic look-a-like mushroom that produces a dark brown print. As seen in the photo the spore print confirmed that they were Blewits.

Blewits are compared in texture to button mushrooms that you might find in grocery stores. They need to be thoroughly cooked before consumption and their color tends to fade as they are cooked. I fried some up and added them to an omelet… they were delicious! I am so pleased to add blewits to my edibles knowledge and experience. This Fall is a great time to keep a look-out for them, and be sure to pass them by a local expert for positive identification.

The Ringless Honey Mushroom

Ken — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 14:02:34 +0000

About a year ago I discovered an expired clutch of mushrooms that my mentor speculated as being “honey mushrooms”. I was delighted to learn about a new-to-me mushroom but was disappointed that I could not cook them to experience the taste. Finally, a year later, I just found a beautiful cluster and sought to confirm their I.D. to be sure of their edibility.

As I have mentioned in previous articles about mushrooms I advise that if you pursue this endeavor be sure to contact a local mushroom expert who can positively identify them for your own safety. I am grateful to have knowledgeable forayer friends with whom I share my finds and in turn they share theirs and that has helped me to positively identify edible mushrooms as they appear in each new season.

There are essentially two types of honey mushrooms: one variety (armillaria mellea) with rings on the stem and one without rings (armillaria tabescens). They may be found growing on or near hardwood trees, typically oaks. The ones that I found were in the grass near a dead curly maple tree. You can see the caps in the photo. They may be small and rounded, or flat and fully expanded. One important test to identify a honey mushroom is the spore print. When the cap of a mushroom is placed on a dark surface the spores from the gills are dropped and leave a beautiful pattern. The spore of the honey mushroom is white or light buff.

It is advised to fully cook these “honeys” for about 15 minutes because they can cause gastrointestinal discomfort for some. Another approach is to first par-boil them for 5 minutes before cooking them. Often with new-to-me mushrooms I will eat a very small portion at first and wait a day before consuming more as a precautionary measure because of not knowing how they may effect my system. I recommend this approach as a precautionary procedure when you try a new mushroom.

I’m happy to say that they did not adversely effect me and they were quite delicious… of course butter makes many things taste great! Here is a link for you to learn more about these interesting mushrooms – http://blog.crazyaboutmushrooms.com/ringless-honey-mushroom/ .

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Edible Blewit Mushrooms

The Ringless Honey Mushroom