Content
The royal boletus, also called the king of mushrooms, is a real find for lovers of “quiet hunting”. In addition to excellent taste, the fruiting body of this representative is also distinguished by beneficial properties, for which it is valued by experienced mushroom pickers.
What do royal boletuses look like?
The appearance of the boletus is its calling card. It is difficult to confuse it with other representatives due to a number of features:
- hat. In young specimens it has a convex shape, which over time changes to a cushion-shaped one. In mature boletus, it becomes prostrate, and a dent forms in the central part. The color can range from red-violet to bright pink.But as they grow older, the shade becomes paler (and in pine forests, on the contrary, it darkens). At the same time, the skin of the cap is tender and smooth; light cracks may be observed on it, forming a characteristic pattern. The diameter of the upper part of the fruiting body reaches 15 cm.
- Boletus leg royal grows up to 15 cm, and in diameter - up to 6 - 8 cm. Its color is yellow-brown, but near the cap there is a bright yellow mesh pattern.
Where do royal boletuses grow?
Pine forests are the main habitats for these representatives. But they can also be found in deciduous plantings: the main thing is that the soil is sandy or calcareous. In Russia, royal boletus grows in the Far East and the Caucasus region. They can be found both in groups and as single specimens. Peak yield occurs at the end of June - beginning of July. The last mushrooms are harvested in September.
Is it possible to eat royal boletus?
This species is classified as edible. At the same time, the fruiting bodies have excellent taste and aroma.
Taste qualities of the royal boletus mushroom
Boletus pulp, which has a dense, continuous structure, is highly valued. The calorie content of the product is low (34 kcal per 100 g). The water content reaches 85%. And in dried raw materials, the energy value increases almost 10 times.
In addition to its taste characteristics, the mushroom also boasts a composition that contains vitamins C, E, PP, B, macro- and microelements magnesium, sulfur, potassium, chlorine, chromium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, rubidium, cobalt, fluorine, silicon, iron, zinc, manganese, etc.As for the nutritional value of boletus mushrooms, it is not very high: the fact is that mushroom protein is not easily digestible.
False doubles
The royal boletus has many “relatives” similar to it. All of them belong to the Boletaceae family. But one of the false doubles is the beautiful boletus. This is an inedible species and is prohibited for consumption.
Distinctive characteristics of this variety:
- Cap color – brown, brown or olive. In young specimens, the upper part is hemispherical in shape, then becomes slightly convex. With age, the edges of the cap curl inward.
- Leg - cylindrical. Its color is white, lemon, reddish or pink.
- Taste - bitter even after prolonged boiling.
Collection rules
Mushrooms can only be collected in places remote from industrial enterprises and highways. Fruiting bodies easily absorb exhaust gases and industrial waste products such as poisons and heavy metals.
Use
“The King of Mushrooms” is considered a real delicacy. The product can be used to prepare any dishes, dry it, or freeze it. Most often, royal boletus is used for pickling, stewing and frying. Experienced chefs have a lot of recipes for preparing original dishes.
With high taste, the product has a number of useful properties that make it possible to diversify the use of the royal mushroom.
- Helps improve digestion. Boletus broths are several times healthier than meat broths.
- Normalizes the condition of the thyroid gland.
- Improves the appearance of skin, nails and hair.
- It has antibacterial, wound-healing and tonic effects. Has an antitumor effect.
- Boosts immunity.
- Can fight cancer.
- Clears the walls of blood vessels from cholesterol.
- Promotes cell renewal in the body.
- Facilitates the condition of tuberculosis patients thanks to the amino acids in the composition.
- Has a regenerating effect. Eliminates frostbite. Royal boletus extract is used in the treatment of ulcers.
- Dried raw materials help fight headaches and anemia.
Conclusion
Royal boletus is a healthy and tasty mushroom that occupies a special place among connoisseurs and lovers of quiet hunting. The main thing is not to confuse it with its inedible counterparts, which can cause poisoning.
