Finnish Mushrooms

Introduction:

Just before the snow comes in Finland, during the summer and brief autumn, mushrooms grow freely in the mossy undersides of trees and rocks and are cherished by Finns for their taste, nutrition and wide availability. Some mushrooms that are expensive to buy from a store where I live grow freely in backyards here in Finland! 

Mushrooms have a long history of being healthy, delicious treats. However, there are many poisonous mushrooms in all areas of the world, and very little medical experts can do to treat the toxins in them, especially in children. Unless you have been mushroom picking for many years, it is impossible to tell the difference between a tasty dinner and a dangerous mistake. Thankfully, there was a mushroom tour with a guide who had lived in Finland and France for many years, and she was able to oversee every mushroom we picked, just in case.

What does this creature or plant look like?:

Mushrooms have a cap (the "hat") and a stem. Most red or white mushrooms are poisonous and should be avoided by beginners. What mushrooms can be eaten then? Our guide showed us how to smell, examine and even pick the mushrooms properly so that we could pick the best mushrooms possible.

I usually do not like mushrooms, but I fried the mushrooms that I picked called Chanterelle mushrooms in butter, and they were one of the best things that I've ever eaten.

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