I grew up mushroom picking. It was one of my favorite activities when I was a child. As I explained to my husband Terry, musroom picking in Russia is like "hiking with the purpose". The whole family gets together and drives to the forest and then hikes along the road in search for mushrooms.
Mushroom picking is a very common "hobby" in Russia. I guess it is not a big surprise considering the amount of land covered by deep untouched by cilivization forrests. For example, 70% of the area in the republic I am from, Komi Republic, is forest.
They say pine tree forests are one of the best to pick up mushrroms.
Mushroom picking is a very common "hobby" in Russia. I guess it is not a big surprise considering the amount of land covered by deep untouched by cilivization forrests. For example, 70% of the area in the republic I am from, Komi Republic, is forest.
They say pine tree forests are one of the best to pick up mushrroms.
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| Pine tree forest |
You learn from childhood which mushrooms are good and which are poisonous.
Mushroom season is usually between June to September. Most of the mushroom come out after the heavy rain.
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| Ant pile |
The mushroom below was one of the biggest mushrooms we saw that day. Too bad that worms got it first.
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| Big mushroom |
White mushroom is considered one of the best and tastiest mushrooms. It can be used for both cooking and marinade. The name "white mushroom" comes from the color of the stem. It will stay white even if you cook it or marinate it. White mushrooms are most common in pine tree forests.
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| White mushroom |
Mushrooms are an essential element to the Russian diet. We eat them pickled, dried, fresh, in soups, stews, and hot pockets. Mushroom soup is probably my favorite. I also enjoy them pickled. A jar of pickled mushrooms during the winter is always a treat.
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| Mushroom soup |
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| Mushroom stew |
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| Mushroom stew with potatoes |
