Weasel Mushroom and Its Properties
Where Does the Poppies Mushroom Grow?
When Are Poppies Mushrooms Collected? How to Clean?
What Are the Benefits of Poppy Mushrooms?
How to Cook Poppy Mushrooms
Is there any harm from the poppy mushroom?
Weasel Mushroom and Its Properties The Latin name of the poppy mushroom from the Amanitaceae family is Amanita Caesarea. The poppy mushroom was named Caesarea (Caesar) because it is a type of mushroom that the Roman emperors liked very much. In our country, it is known as emperor mushroom, yellow belly, poppy or bride mushroom.
The reason why the name poppy is attributed to the mushroom, which is often known as the emperor mushroom, is because it looks like a bride in its white shell. It is a type of mushroom with an orange cap and white spores. It has a sharp taste, but it is very delicious.
The funnel-shaped cap of the poppy mushroom, 5 – 15 cm in diameter, is usually in orange and red hues. The red color of this edible mushroom makes it easily recognizable in its natural environment.
The poppy mushroom, which has not yet reached the adult state, is in a white sac and looks like an egg. Mushrooms in this form continue to grow even after they are collected. Within the poppy mushroom family, there are varieties that are poisonous. For this reason, care should be taken to collect it very consciously.
If you want to collect it yourself from its natural environment, you must have knowledge or collect it with someone who knows. Because the poisonous varieties of this mushroom have deadly consequences.
Where Does the Poppies Mushroom Grow? The poppy mushroom, whose homeland is the southern regions of Europe, is a species that grows abundantly in Turkey. It grows in forests covered with broad-leaved trees around the world. Mostly, poppy fungus is found at or near the bottom of oak, chestnut and linden trees. Rarely, it can grow in pine forests, tree bottoms and open areas.
In Turkey, from Şile, along the Western Black Sea and near the coast, you can often encounter poppy mushrooms. Göksu Valley, Şile and Kandıra are the places to be seen most. Istanbul is among the places where poppy mushrooms grow. It is known that it grows abundantly in and around Bolu.
Mushroom, which grows in spring and has a light aroma, is very preferred in terms of its flavor. Its hard and sharp flavor is very popular. With the sun coming out after the spring rains, it grows and starts to show itself.
When Are Poppies Mushrooms Collected? How to Clean? The harvest season of the poppy mushroom begins in September and ends in November. The fungus begins to develop after the first spring rains and reaches maturity in the summer. For this reason, poppy mushrooms can be collected from the end of the summer months. The collection process ends in late September. If you want to collect the mushroom yourself, you can pay attention to the following features to easily recognize it:
The spores of the poppy fungus are white, and the plaques under its cap are yellow in color. The edges of the cap of the mushroom are curved inward, and the upper part is somewhat flat. When the mushroom stays in the sun for a long time, its color becomes silvery. The membrane of the cap of the mushroom is in orange and red tones, and the stem, which is 5-12 cm, is yellow. The part of the handle near the cap is yellow, the handle has a striped ring that looks like a skirt. The tip of the stem is in the form of an onion. It is covered with a pouch. The outside of the trapezoidal tuber-like sac is white, and the side where the fungus attaches to the stem is yellow.
It is the best method to remove the poppy fungus while collecting it from its root. Thus, you can have a chance to carefully examine the mushroom. After plucking it, you must immediately separate it from the stem and purify it from residues.
The poppy mushroom is an easy-to-clean species. After doing the first wash under running water and thoroughly cleaning the dusty parts, you can wait for a while in salty or vinegary water, which is not too hot, if you wish.
What Are the Benefits of Poppy Mushrooms? Like all edible mushroom species, weasel or emperor mushroom is a very useful mushroom. It has a high nutritional value and being a low-calorie type of mushroom makes it attractive. The poppy mushroom, which has a high water content, also contains plenty of protein. The benefits of poppy mushroom can be listed as follows:
Mushrooms contain plenty of minerals and vitamins. It contains high levels of vitamins A, C, and D. It strengthens the immune system due to its high nutritional value. It helps the healthy functioning of the stomach and intestines, that is, the digestive system. Since there are 20-40 calories in 100 grams of poppy mushroom, it is easily added to weight loss diets. There are opinions that it reduces tumors due to the lentinan substance it contains. It has a protective feature against arteriosclerosis. There are beliefs that it prevents brain hemorrhages. It is assumed to have a cholesterol-lowering effect.
You can take care to consume this mushroom, which is very useful and grows spontaneously in our country, abundantly in the season.
How to Cook Poppy Mushrooms After collecting mushrooms that you are sure are not poisonous, or you can buy them from peasant markets, you can clean them thoroughly and use them in many different ways. The mushroom has a sharp but delicious taste. If you want to cook, you can consume it by roasting mushrooms. Roasted onions are very tasty.
You can also use it in soup making because it has a pleasant aroma. You can be sure that the mushroom soup you will make with chicken broth will be delicious. It is a type of mushroom that goes well with pasta sauces. You can prepare tomato and spicy pasta sauces. You can enjoy its delicious taste in your salads and pastries.
You can roast mushrooms in butter with spices and serve as a side dish with meat dishes. You can make chicken stew by roasting it together with chicken meats. You can use poppy mushrooms in many recipes, just like other types of mushrooms.
Is there any harm from the poppy mushroom? Within the poppy mushroom species, there are varieties that are poisonous. First of all, it should be learned which ones are poisonous and according to that, they should be collected from their natural environment. It is necessary to be very careful when collecting this mushroom, which is more delicious than cultivated mushrooms. It is inconvenient for those who do not have enough knowledge about mushrooms to collect poppy mushrooms.
Like other mushroom species, poppy mushroom can cause allergic reactions in some bodies. It would not be right to consume too many mushrooms in the same meal. It is important to keep in mind the following feature when collecting poppy mushrooms. Poisonous poppy mushroom species are bright and beautiful-looking. The mushroom, whose cap is the same color on the bottom and top, is poisonous. Apart from that, the poppy mushroom you buy with confidence has no dangerous aspect or harm.
