For those who know how to look, forests abound with treasures; and in this autumn season, the kings of the forest are undoubtedly mushrooms. During these fine weekends ahead, you may be planning to take a stroll in the woods, in search of those precious mushrooms. But be warned, mushroom picking can quickly turn deadly.
In fact, many mushrooms are toxic, or even fatal to humans! So it's best to know which mushrooms are good and which are bad, before getting down to cooking. There are several ways of sorting out your harvest.
Traditionally, it is advisable to have your harvest inspected by a pharmacist, who is trained to distinguish between edible and dangerous mushrooms. Mycological societies (mushroom experts) can also be contacted by e-mail: all you have to do is send photos of your harvest for them to be identified. In the Paris region, several associations are available.
There are also digital applications for recognizing different species of mushroom. However, theAnses (Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire) warns users that many mistakes have been made, and that this kind of misunderstanding can have disastrous consequences.
During your walks in the forest, you may also come across many chestnuts . Here again, beware of poisonous and inedible fruits!
Autumn fruit: chestnut or sweet chestnut, how to recognize edible fruit in the forest
On a walk in the forest, you're sure to find chestnuts and sweet chestnuts at the foot of the trees, just waiting to be picked up and cooked. But beware: chestnuts are poisonous and cannot be eaten! Here's how to recognize them. [Read more]
Autumn fruit: chestnut or sweet chestnut, how to recognize edible fruit in the forest
