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Many mycology enthusiasts travel the mountains in search of mushrooms in the Basque Country.
The Basque Country is full of lovers of these little beings of nature called mushrooms. Every year, with the onset of the first rains in September, the first “mushrooms” start to appear. Throughout this article we will try to guide you in the exciting world of mushrooms in the Basque Country, stay tuned!
Mushroom in the Basque Country
The growth of fungi: Fungi, like many other elements in nature depend on climatic factors in order to grow. The basic elements that can modify for better or worse the development of a fungus are:
-Temperature.
-Humidity.
-Light.
-The rains.
-The moon, they usually say that they start to rise from the first full moon of September.
Mushroom Search: To be successful in the search for mushrooms in the Basque Country we must take into account the following factors:
-Knowing how to identify mushrooms.
-To know where mushrooms usually grow.
-To know when all the climatic factors for the appearance of fungi occur.
Elegance turned into Mushroom
Most common mushroom varieties in the Basque Country
The best known and most popular mushrooms in our forests are undoubtedly the boletus edulis, pinicola and black boletus. Three varieties of very good quality and very coveted among lovers of the mycological world.
Edulis: Brownish-white cap and white trunk.
Pinicola: Garnet colored cap and somewhat dark trunk.
Black: Black Txapela and dark trunk.
Mushrooms in pairs in the Basque Country
Useful tips when looking for mushrooms in the Basque Country:
-Collect and taste only safely identified mushrooms.
-If in doubt, never eat the mushroom. If you do, keep a piece of the mushroom so that you can take it to the hospital in case of poisoning.
-Do not remove the soil when collecting mushrooms, we must cut them with a knife or similar utensil.
-Do not eliminate very mature or broken mushrooms as we need them for their spores to expand and reproduce.
-For the same reason as the previous point, the container or container that we use to transport the mushrooms must have contact with the outside so that the spores can come out of the container. The most recommended container is the traditional wicker basket.
-The areas most prone to mushrooms are beech and oak forests, although they also grow in pine forests where there were previously beech or oak trees, since the soil maintains the nutrients it had in the past. Normally the black fungus grows in oak groves while the edulis and pinicola fungus grows in beech forests.
Basket and mushroom
-Depending on the part of the world where we are, the harvesting season varies, but we can say that the most fruitful time is from September until the winter cold starts.
-As we already know, many people do not respect the harvesting margins imposed by the competent entities and “plunder” the forest. We ask for respect and understanding. In the Iberian Peninsula there is a list with 67 endangered mushrooms, if we do not respect them they will end up disappearing.
-Keep in mind the limitations of each province: In Alava there are 2 kilos while in Gipuzkoa there are 4 kilos allowed.
3 areas of the Basque Country where you can find mushrooms
As you know, a good hedger does not tell all his corners, so we leave you only 2 of them and of large areas.
-The Aralar area and the slopes of the villages of Isaba, Otsagabia, Etxalar or Aldaz.
-The area of the Gorbea Natural Park.
-Natural Park of Peñas de Aia.
The king of the forest by TurismoVasco
Mushrooms are a delicacy that you can taste in many restaurants in the Basque Country. So, if you don’t want to go and pick them yourself, go to one of the restaurants specialized in mushrooms in the Basque Country. Enjoy mushrooms in the Basque Country, but always with sensitivity towards the environment and with responsibility.
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