”This mushroom is part of the Russula family, which I’ve already discussed in my post about The Beechwood Sickener. Unlike the sickener, I prefer this one because it’s tasty and easy to identify over and above the other 300+ in the UK.
GeorgeFlavour Fred
To identify this family, we need to look for specific features, such as the brittle stipe (stem) that snaps like a stick of chalk, the peelable cap, and the brittle white gills that flake like almonds. However, the gills are much more malleable than the other features. Additionally, since the gills are white, we must be careful not to mistake it for a bulbous base or volva, as this could be an Amanita species.
Learning about these mushrooms is fun because of their variety. Using all your senses to guide your identification is also a great way to learn about them. Understanding the environment and the relationships between the mushrooms and the trees is a starting point for finding them.
This Charcoal Burner I found in a mixed woodland of beech, oak, and birch. It’s called the charcoal burner because the caps resemble the colours of burning charcoal, and they also remind me of the ruddy faces of charcoal burners. The cap colour can vary from brown to wine, grey, purple, or even yellowish. It’s also a little greasy when wet and starts convex and flattens with age.
In my opinion, this is one of the best-tasting Russula mushrooms. They have a nice mushroom and nutty flavour, and I love them in soups, fried, and preserved.
