Russula mushrooms are growing already. How can you tell the “tangy and spice” ones from the smooth ones

Have already you gone mushroom picking this year? If so, you’ve probably encountered many varieties of Russula mushrooms and this is because far fewer people collect these less popular mushrooms than, for example, the famous boletus mushrooms.. and that is a shame, because the taste is very unique. Russula mushrooms are easily recognizable – thanks to typical features but you can also use our “test” to make sure that you are dealing with the right russula mushroom.

Break off a little a piece

A very interesting technique that you may use to identify russula mushrooms is to break off a piece of the fruiting body. Jiří Baier, a mushroom expert, uses this trick too.Take a knife and gently push the tip into the stipe. If a piece breaks off, then you have a russula mushroom.If you do the same thing to an apple, you should get a similar result – a broken off piece. The only mushroom that would do the same is called the saffron milkcap. If you use this test on other mushrooms you would not get a broken piece but rather peeling skin. Russula mushrooms are very fragile and their skin breaks easily.

Photo: Pixabay

Edible or not?

Well, all russula mushrooms are edible, basically, because they do not contain poisonous substances that would pose a danger, but practice makes perfect so make sure to learn how to identify russula mushrooms properly. Before going on a mushroom hunt take an experienced mycologist with you and you should be able to learn how to recognize individual russula mushrooms easily.You may also use your taste to identify russula mushroom but here you should be more careful.

Photo: Pixabay

Taste test

You can do the “spice” test by tasting individual mushrooms. Get down but do not twist the mushroom out of the ground, only break off a tiny part of the pileus. Remove the skin and put the tiny piece between your lips and on the tip of your tongue. Leave it in your mouth for a while and you should be able to taste the “spiciness”. If you are a beginner, take a very tiny piece only. Do not rub your eyes and nose after tasting.Keep in mind that the longer you taste the less sensitive your taste buds will become. And what are the most popular russula mushrooms? For example, Russula cyanoxantha, Russula virescens, Russula vesca, but there are many others.

Preview photo: Pixabay