Put on your boots, let’s go mushrooming! The little hats are back these days in Côte-d’Or: beautiful outbreaks of death trumpets and chanterelles have been reported. Enough to relieve amateurs and specialists, because the mushrooms were long overdue this year. Until now, despite good amounts of rain, they had not grown because of the wind drying out the soil. And it’s not hot enough for a sprout of porcini mushrooms, nor for the delicious Caesar amanitas, which are appearing in our department. Despite everything, there is plenty to make great omelettes this fall. But be careful not to do anything: a good mushroom picker must take some precautions.
Mycologists, mushroom specialists, are clear: you must go picking with a wicker basket and not with a plastic bag. « If you put them in a plastic bag, it will macerate, toxins will appear and it could be dangerous », Explains Marie-Geneviève Poillotte, honorary president of the Mycological Society of Châtillonnais. Another tip: you should also cut the mushroom with a knife. “ You have to harvest everything, from the base of the plant to the cap. » And that’s not just because everything in the mushroom is good – as long as it’s edible, of course – it’s also advice to make identification easier.
Avoid pharmacies and apps
Identifying a mushroom is far from easy. The best advice is to contact mycological societies for reliable information. Today, specialists believe that pharmacists are no longer well enough trained during their studies to give valid advice. “ There are pharmacists who are very good mycologists, explains Marie-Geneviève Poillotte, but often, they direct the pickers to the mycological societies, that is where it is better to go to have information as reliable as possible. »
As for mobile applications, such as Champignouf, you should also be wary of them. “ It is the main source of poisoning », alerts Marie-Geneviève Poillotte. This is also the opinion of Jean-Claude Verpeau, president of the Mycological Society of Is-sur-Tille. “ It seems very dangerous to me, every time I see someone using it, as soon as the app gives us a mushroom name, it’s often wrong, I’m very wary of these apps “, he says. “ They can give an idea of the identification, but you always have to check », Supports the Châtillonnaise mycologist. This is also what the National Forestry Office recommends.
Don’t pick or eat too many!
How many mushrooms can I collect when I go mushroom picking? On this, the texts are not always clear. In national forests, that is to say the public forest of the State, managed by the ONF, it is the forest code which is law. The maximum quantity authorized is 3.5 kilos per person per dayin general. However, there may be different local regulations.
Olivier Estran
And finally, for the most greedy among us, you should know that eating mushrooms every day is not at all a good idea. In fact, all mushrooms are more or less toxic. « When you eat a little, it’s okay, but when it’s every day you accumulate toxins and you risk poisoning yourself, even with good mushrooms. », Warns Marie-Geneviève Poillotte.
