Content
The diversity of mushrooms in the forest often complicates the search for edible specimens. Winter talker is one of the common species belonging to the Ryadovkov family, the genus Clitocybe or Govorushka. Latin name: Clitocybe brumalis. This representative of the mushroom kingdom is edible, but it also has poisonous counterparts, the differences from which are presented below.
Where do winter talkers grow?
The fruits can be found in coniferous forests, on damp litter near trees. They grow in Europe, northern Africa, and southern America. In Russia, winter talkers are found in the Caucasus, Siberia and the Far East.
What winter talkers look like
Young fruits have a convex cap, over time it turns into a flat one, and then takes on a funnel shape. Its diameter does not exceed 5 cm. It is distinguished by its light color with fawn tones. The shade can be uniform or with brown spots.
The stem of the fruit is practically no different in color from the cap. Its height is up to 4 cm, and its diameter is up to 0.5 cm. The leg has an elongated shape. The spores are white and oval in shape.
Is it possible to eat winter talkers?
Mushrooms are allowed to be eaten, but they do not taste good. That's why not everyone loves them. Usually used for preparing first and second courses.
Taste qualities of winter govorushka mushroom
The pulp of this species is elastic, the aroma resembles the strong smell of raw flour or dust. The product can be dried, boiled and fried if desired. Winter talker can also be salted, pickled and dried. These mushrooms have a bitter taste.
Benefits and harm to the body
The fruits are used as low-calorie foods, so they are found in many professional diets. The winter talker has the following valuable properties:
- Young caps contain a lot of vitamin B, macro- and microelements. They are rich in copper, zinc, manganese.
- The pulp removes toxins from the body.
- Since the product contains plant proteins, vitamins, fiber, amino acids and minerals, it reduces the risk of various ailments. Mushrooms help lower cholesterol. Taking them has a positive effect on the digestive system.
- In medicine, the antibacterial effect of the fruit is valued. Decoctions of them help eliminate tuberculosis manifestations. And the present clitocybin is used in drugs used to treat epilepsy.
This is a property of all mushrooms. Therefore, you should not eat fruits collected near industrial enterprises and roads. This may cause food poisoning.
False doubles
The winter talker has many similarities with related representatives:
Smoky (gray) differs in color
The hat is grayish in color. The height of the stem is 6-10 cm, the diameter of the cap is 5-15 cm. The smoky species contains a dangerous substance - nebularin, therefore talkers are classified as poisonous.
Fragrant, aromatic or aniseed
It has a bluish-green color, which makes it different from the winter one. It is an edible species, but not everyone likes the strong smell.
Gigantic
Differs in large sizes. The diameter of the cap reaches 30 cm. This species is edible.
Collection rules
Winter talker is considered an autumn mushroom; collection occurs in September - October and continues until the first frost. Usually there are a lot of fruits in coniferous forests where spruce trees grow. This is a rare mushroom, so sometimes even a thorough search does not lead to a rich harvest.
It is advisable to engage in quiet hunting in clean areas. When collecting winter talker, you need to study the find and check whether it definitely belongs to this species. If there is any doubt, the fruiting body is left in the forest.
Use
Winter talker is an edible mushroom. Before preparing dishes from them, the fruits should be carefully processed. This procedure does not take much time and consists of clearing soil and debris. Then the fruiting bodies are washed and boiled for 10 minutes in salt water. The liquid is drained and the mushrooms are placed in a colander. The water must be allowed to drain to remove excess moisture.
Boiled specimens can be eaten with cereals, salads, potatoes, and meat dishes.Mushrooms are marinated in vinegar sauce. Some housewives prefer to fry and pickle fruits, but not everyone likes such dishes.
Conclusion
Winter talker rarely grows in forests, so it will not be possible to harvest a large harvest. It is an edible species, but not everyone likes its rich aroma. The harvest can be used for pickling and pickling. To avoid mistakes when collecting, you should carefully inspect the fruiting bodies on site. If there is any doubt, the suspicious specimen will not be added to the trash bin.
