Chanterelle is a mushroom I started gathering around 35 years ago and the mushroom in front of the 2 chanterelle mushrooms in the photo Lactarius lignyotus, the Chocolate Milky is one I have recently began to gather for the table.
Still undecided whether I’ll add this one to my Wild Edible Mushroom page as there is little info on its edibility beyond a few sources from Quebec Canada. I know I can eat this mushroom with no problem so far though I’m not sure how many folks have actually tried it in NA and worldwide.
The cap and stem of this mushroom are almost black in color when they first appear, then the cap and stem gradually fade to light brown. The gills start out almost white and start gradually darkening up to also become light brown, so when very mature the mushrooms cap, stem and gills are shades of light brown. I’ll keep eating and experimenting with recipes before I make a decision on this guy.
These Chocolate Milkys are common under spruce and other conifers so they can be gathered in good numbers though the are fragile and crush easily in your basket if layered. In conifers these mushrooms often grow where Hedgehog and Chanterelle are so it will be convenient gathering if this one becomes a wild mushroom I can trust as a safe edible long term.
Last photo is my first sighting of Craterrellus tubaeformis the Winter Chanterelle, hang in there summer. ciao
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