Content
The fragrant talker is a fairly rare mushroom that can be eaten after special processing. To recognize a talker of this species in the forest, you need to study its photo and remember the main features.
Where do fragrant talkers grow?
The fragrant talker, or clitocybe, is not very widespread and therefore little known. You can meet it in the middle zone and in more northern regions. The mushroom usually grows in mixed or coniferous forests, sometimes found singly, but more often it can be found in large groups.
What do fragrant talkers look like?
The size of Clitocybe is quite small - the neat cap of the fragrant talker reaches from 3 to 6 cm in diameter. At first it has convex outlines, but with age it becomes prostrate-concave, with a wavy and slightly drooping edge. The cap of the mushroom is fleshy, but thin, and its color is grayish or fawn, yellowish-gray, or ocher.The underside is covered with narrow whitish plates descending onto the stalk; in adult mushrooms the plates are brownish-gray.
The leg of the fragrant talker is low and thin - only up to 5 cm in height and up to 1 cm in diameter. The shape of the leg is cylindrical and solid, the same color as the cap, and slight pubescence is noticeable at the base.
Is it possible to eat fragrant talkers?
Due to its lack of popularity, Clitocybe often raises doubts among mushroom pickers. But in fact, the mushroom belongs to the category of conditionally edible; it can be eaten if it is first washed and boiled.
Taste qualities of the fragrant govorushka mushroom
The fragrant talkers have a neutral taste, the flesh is elastic and pleasant both when consumed alone and as part of an assortment of mushrooms. But due to the pronounced anise smell, not everyone likes clitocybe, especially since the aroma does not become weaker after cooking.
Benefits and harm to the body
After initial processing, the fragrant Clitocybe mushrooms become suitable for consumption. But their value lies not only in taste. Mushroom pulp contains many useful substances, namely:
- vitamins C and A;
- vitamin D;
- vitamins B1 and B2;
- fiber;
- beneficial minerals, in particular copper, zinc and manganese;
- amino acids and proteins;
- substances with antibacterial effect;
- substance clitocybin, which helps with epilepsy.
Fragrant talkers are useful to use in cases of lack of vitamins and loss of strength, in case of bacterial and fungal diseases.They will be of great benefit in the treatment of tuberculosis if you combine mushroom pulp with medications. Clitocybe also has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and metabolism, helps maintain youth and promotes cellular renewal.
Restrictions:
- Fragrant talkers cause harm mainly if the pre-treatment of the mushroom was carried out incorrectly.
- Poorly boiled or raw clitocybe can be seriously poisoned - intoxication will lead to diarrhea, vomiting and weakness.
- It is not recommended to abuse clitocybe mushrooms; in excess quantities they can worsen your health.
- You should also avoid using them if you have sluggish bowel movements, frequent constipation, or problems with the pancreas.
False doubles
The fragrant Clitocybe has several doubles, mostly other talkers with a similar structure and coloring. Some of them are suitable for consumption, but others are completely inedible, so confusing them with the fragrant talker is simply dangerous.
Anise talker
This edible variety is very similar to the fragrant talker, primarily in its strong anise smell and the gray tint of the cap on adult fruiting bodies. But the anise talker is much larger, it can reach 10 cm in diameter and up to 8 cm in height. The grayish-greenish tint of the anise mushroom is more noticeable.
In terms of nutritional qualities, the varieties are approximately the same.Not everyone likes their pulp due to its strong smell, but after initial processing it is suitable for consumption.
Winter talker
You can also confuse the fragrant talker with the winter one, the latter also has a convex cap at a young age, and then an outstretched cap with thin edges and a cylindrical stem. But the color of the winter talker is grayish or brownish-olive, its yellowness is of a completely different shade. In addition, the smell and taste of the flour mushroom are much less appetizing, although it can also be used in food.
Grooved talker
This variety belongs to the category of inedible; it is better not to confuse the fragrant talker with it when collecting it. The cap of an adult mushroom is concave with a navel-like depression in the center, dry to the touch.
The grooved variety can be distinguished by its gray-white or gray-brown color, as well as by the mealy aroma and taste of the pulp. In addition, the peak of fruiting for the variety occurs quite late, from the beginning of November to January, which is reflected in the name.
Collection rules
The fragrant talker is an autumn mushroom that should be picked from the beginning of September to the beginning of October. The chance of finding Clitocybe is highest in coniferous forests with a large number of spruce trees. However, it must be taken into account that the mushroom is rare; even with careful searches, it is unlikely that a large harvest will be collected.
You need to look for the fragrant talker in clean areas. You should not collect fruiting bodies that grow too close to highways and industrial facilities; they contain many toxic substances from the soil and air.
Use
Before culinary preparation, the fragrant talker must be pre-treated. Processing takes little time and boils down to the fact that the mushroom is first cleaned of soil and adhering debris, then washed, and then boiled for 10 minutes in salt water. After this, the water must be drained, and the mushrooms themselves should be placed in a colander and wait until all the excess water has drained from them.
Boiled talkers are usually consumed in their pure form with porridges, salads, potatoes or meat dishes. Clitocybe can also be marinated in vinegar sauce. But it is not customary to fry and pickle this type of edible mushroom; due to the strong non-standard smell, the dishes turn out less tasty.
Conclusion
The fragrant talker is quite rare in forests and therefore is not popular among mushroom pickers. In addition, the bright smell of autumn mushrooms is not to everyone’s taste. But after proper processing, clitocybe can be safely consumed pickled or boiled in moderate quantities.
