In this period of the year, in those communities blessed with woodlands, people, after an evening rain go hunting for mushrooms. Of course, that can be a dangerous passtime, unless you're really an expert. Many people poison themselves each year ... and all you need is one of the mistaken mushroom in your gleanings to create havoc.
Throughout Italy though, there's a public service (open all week long) run by the local Health Departments where you can take your mushrooms to be examined by experts ... maybe a bother but in my opinion well worth it. Here is one of the many posters you can now find throughout the territory to help people distingush between the various types of mushrooms:
musky autumn smell
in the wet forests and parks
mushroom gatherers
in the wet forests and parks
mushroom gatherers
huge baskets
full of porcini mushrooms
at Grosseto
full of porcini mushrooms
at Grosseto
When I lived in Grosseto I had lots of friends who used to go searching for mushrooms in the hillsides and parks that characterize this great area of Tuscany. Sometimes they would give us some of their finferly (chanterelles) which are the easiest mushrooms to find or porcini mushrooms - the mushroom par excellence in the Italian mind (and also dangerous to pick as there's a poisonous mushroom that looks a lot like it). I'm happy to say that my friends, though experts, always went to have their gatherings checked - one never knows.
Good idea to have them checked...so easy to make a mistake!
ReplyDeleteI agree ... there have been some terrible consequences from the wrong type of mushrooms. A few years back Nicholas Evans and family had a terrible run in with them ... they had to have a kydney transplant. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1308997/The-deadly-dish-poisoned-lives-How-The-Horse-Whisperers-Nicholas-Evans-killed-family-wild-mushrooms.html
DeleteIs the musky smell from the mushrooms or the gatherers? Either way, it's autumn!
ReplyDeleteUnder a Mushroom
Actually I was thinking of the mushrooms ... but the gatherers get potent too ;-)
DeleteWhat a gorgeous photo Georgia!
ReplyDeleteI too would get those mushrooms checked out .... Dangerous!
Really are read this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1308997/The-deadly-dish-poisoned-lives-How-The-Horse-Whisperers-Nicholas-Evans-killed-family-wild-mushrooms.html
DeleteGood grief! Kidney transplants in the future .... a wonder they're still alive .... sheesh!
DeleteYes, they were really very very lucky.
DeleteI'm going to guess that porcinis are pricey.
ReplyDeleteDesiccated Mushroom
Oh yes ... very. Fortunately a little goes a long way.
Deletethey really do carry that fall aroma. Nice selection glad your friends were careful...
ReplyDeleteYes .. one of the profumes of autumn! Me too ... this is the season when the papers and tv news start carrying the stories of tragedy thanks to picking the wrong mushrooms.
DeleteNice poster, a large variety too. Very colorful. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteThanks ... but most of all it's useful ;-)
DeleteBut porcini .. should be simple.. (at least in Sweden there are no poisonous relatives)..
ReplyDeleteThere are many types of mushrooms that the Italians pick in this season not only porcini which you find mostly in chestnut woods and if one is careful one can avoid the poisonous ones. There is a couple of "false" porcini in Italy ... but one of the characteristics is that they stink. Usually though people poison themselves with other types of mushrooms.
Delete