National Mushroom Day UK - 8th September

September 8th is around the time in the UK when the mushroom picking season begins, and as such it has been designated our National Mushroom Day. The UK plays home to hundreds of varieties of edible mushrooms, from the very north of Scotland to the tip of Cornwall. Many thrive in warm damp areas, such as woodlands and dense copses, and others can be found in fields, particularly those home to sheep and cows.

Foraging for mushrooms yourself in the wild can result in a delicious dinner, with a wide range of flavoursome varieties spouting across the country. Not only are you likely to find many types of edible mushrooms which are seldom available in supermarkets, but picking your own food also offers you a closer understanding of what you are eating. Sample a handful of freshly-foraged golden chanterelles fried in butter and seasoning, and you will discover a world of difference in flavour to the pre-packed white mushrooms commonly found in shops.

However, unless you are properly trained in which mushrooms are poisonous, you should always go picking with an expert who can tell you for definite which are edible. Research from field guidebooks is useful, but no substitute for going with someone who knows for certain. Highly poisonous mushrooms may sometimes closely resemble edible varieties. One example of this is the Death Cap, a mushroom which is surprisingly similar to the delicious straw mushroom, popular in Asian cuisine, but which is one of the world’s most poisonous mushrooms, rumoured to have killed both the Roman Emperor Claudius and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI.

In fact, mushrooms embody an ancient paradox with their ability to both cause and cure disease. Hieroglyphics from the tombs of Pharaohs in ancient Egypt suggest the Egyptians believed they could induce immortality, with the royalty at the time designating that no commoners were allowed to eat them. The Chinese have also used mushrooms for both culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. However, despite considering them a delicacy and classing them as the ‘food of the gods’, the Ancient Romans were well aware that the wrong mushroom could be lethal. As such, Caesar employed tasters to sample the fungi before they were served to him, in order to ensure that they were safe.

Biologically, mushrooms are a member of the kingdom of fungi, making them neither plants nor animals. Genetic studies have actually revealed that they are closer to animals. The mushrooms we see growing are just one small part of the entire fungi: the main body, known as the mycelium, lives underground and may span many acres. In fact, the largest living organism in the world is a species of the honey mushroom in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, which spans an incredible 2200 acres.

Mushroom Recipes

Hungry for more? Find delicious recipes on the recommended food links below:

  • Apple Crumble Recipe - Crumbles can be made with either fruit and sugar or there are also savoury versions.
  • Asparagus Recipe - Very low in fat and cholesterol; and a typical stalk is less than 4 calories.
  • Bread Pudding Recipe - As well as the usual sweet bread and butter puddings, there are also savoury bread puddings that include savoury custard and cheese.
  • Carrot Cake Recipe - A lovely, sweet cake that is perfect with tea or as an afternoon snack.
  • Courgette Recipes - Versatile summer vegetable that can be used in salads, grilled or stuffed.
  • Garlic Recipes - Delicious uses for this pungently flavored vegetable.
  • Meatball Recipes - Traditional meal usually made from ground meat rolled into small balls along with other ingredients to bind them.
  • Moussaka Recipes - Another take on meat and vegetable casserole, cooked in a specific style in Greek and Turkish cuisine.
  • Pesto Recipes - Sauce originating in the Liguria region of northern Italy, traditionally consisting of fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil and Parmesan cheese.
  • Pumpkin Recipes - You may be surprised how many ways this orange veg can be used.
  • Scallop Recipes - Popular kind of shellfish which consist of two kinds of meat.
  • Shortbread Recipes - Scottish shortbread originally comes from a biscuit made in medieval times.
  • Spaghetti Recipes - One of the most versatile types of pasta and is incredibly easy to make up into a delicious meal.
  • Spinach Recipe - Leaf vegetable rich in iron and calcium.
  • Stuffing Recipe - Almost anything can be made into a stuffing, but the most popular ingredients tend to be rice, minced pork or beef, cous cous and cheese.
  • Trifle Recipes - Traditional English dessert usually made from a mixture of sponge cake, fruit, jelly, custard and cream.
  • Yorkshire Puddings Recipe - Made from a batter, these are a chewy, crispy, accompaniment to any meat and vegetables.