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Are they growing?
We Czechs have been gathering and eating forest mushrooms since ancient times. It has been documented! The first written records of this activity of our ancestors date back to the 11th century; even the famous 14th century chronicle of Dalimir mentions gathering “mushrooms” from trees. In other words, this “practice” of ours is truly ancient. But be warned! It does not hurt to repeat and remember the basic rules of proper mushroom picking.
You must “breathe”
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The mushrooms you collect cannot be put in a bag! There is a risk of wrinkling or tearing the bag. But it would be even worse if they catch fire. Various microorganisms will multiply. A beautiful and edible mushroom becomes a dangerous mushroom that is harmful to our health. Eating them causes intestinal problems. In short, we go to the forest with a basket of mushrooms! Make sure there is enough space and ventilation. And if we bring the mushrooms back to the kitchen, they are safe for them and for us!
They grow all day long
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When weather and local conditions are right, mushrooms can grow all day in the forest. You can go out looking for mushrooms not only in the early morning, which is the most common time, but also a little later in the day. Even in the hot summer months, the forest is cool all day long.
We collect only what is known
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If we are not sure about a mushroom species, we leave it in the forest. If we decide to “take a sample” to consult an expert, never mix it with the mushrooms we plan to eat. Even small amounts of highly poisonous mushrooms can pose serious health risks if they are in cooked food. The safest thing to do is to photograph and document any suspicious mushrooms. Never mix them into a stir-fry by mistake!
Watch out for mycelium
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If you find yourself in a “hunting passion” in a “patch” full of beautiful mushrooms and you don\’t know which ones to pick first, you need to control yourself. Pick mushrooms with care. This is important to protect the mycelium and further develop the fruiting bodies. The first inspection, sorting and cleaning should be done in the forest. Most red mushrooms do not need to be taken home. Such mushrooms are left for the residents to eat. And at home, they save time in processing.
Process them quickly
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The mushrooms that are picked are still “living organisms” and will decay very rapidly in the cold. We remember this! Leave them in the refrigerator until the next day at the most. What we do not eat must be processed quickly (dried, preserved, salted, boiled and frozen, etc.).