The four most popular Russian mushrooms

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The four most popular Russian mushrooms

August and September, mushroom time in Russia. When I lived in Arkhangelsk region, I often went on mushroom picking. I usually accompanied my friend Maria’s grandmother, because she knew all the types of mushrooms in that forest. It’s important, considering that mushrooms can be edible or poisonous. Here are the four most popular Russian mushrooms. 

1. Белый гриб (боровик) – Cep, porcini (boletus edulis) is the tsar of mushrooms in Russia. Firm white stipe, brown cap. When cut in half, the mushroom remains white, thus its name in Russian: “white mushroom”.

2. Подберёзовик («под берёзой») - Birch mushroom (brown-cap boletus) usually grows near birch trees, symbol of Russia. Its stipe isn’t as thick as the cep’s one; the cap is brown or white. Birch mushrooms grow very fast, in one day they can add up to 4 centimeters.

3. Подосиновик – Aspen mushroom (orange-cap boletus) has a red or orange cap and can grow up to 30 cm (cap) and 15 cm (stipe). In Russian “подосиновик” means “under the aspen”. Осина (aspen) is the tree which roots usually give home to this mushroom.

4. Yellow boletus (маслёнок) is a small mushroom with a brown oily cap. These mushrooms don’t like dark woods. After being picked, they get old quickly, so they should be cleaned very soon after being brought from the forest.

1. How many types of mushrooms do you know?

2. What types of mushrooms are there in Russia?

3. Identify the differences between mushrooms.

4. Do you like mushrooms? What type of mushrooms do you like the most?

5. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the selected mushroom.