Picking mushrooms is one of the most popular Czech Traditions, with two-thirds of the population mushroom foraging at least once a year and the average household picking over thirteen pounds of mushrooms per year. Also known as “the meat of the poor,” mushrooms are easily accessible, full of vitamins, enzymes, protein, and more. This made mushroom foraging an excellent way to gather food for anyone, so much so that foraging is even considered by some as a national sport. But it is not only a method of handling food insecurity; people search through the forest, enjoying nature and spending time with their families. 

Vanessa G., “The Ultimate Guide to Mushroom Hunting in Prague,” PragueGO, September 17, 2019, https://www.praguego.com/honest-guide/the-ultimate-guide-to-mushroom-hunting-in-prague/.

While mushroom foraging can be exciting and provide people with delicious food for the winter, it can also be dangerous. Some of the most deadly mushrooms in the Czech Republic are the death cap and the devil’s bolete. This is why visitors should take an experienced gatherer with them on their journey. 

JUAN MANUEL BORRERO/NPL/MINDEN PICTURES

The Czech still use traditional wooden baskets to gather mushrooms. Some of the edible varieties include Porcini Mushrooms, Boletus Edulis, Hribek Gypsy Mushrooms, Rozites Caperata, Sluka Svarskala, morels, Morchella Esculenta, and Smrz Obecny. Mushrooms are a sustainable and renewable resource; unlike meat and dairy products, they can be harvested without harm to the environment.

After gathering mushrooms, cleaning them becomes a task for the entire family. After cleaning them, Czechs separate their mushrooms into different uses. Mushrooms are often dried, the oldest form of mushroom storage. They offer a high protein content and can be used as a traditional substitute for meat in many European dishes. Some of the most popular mushroom dishes include Houbový kuba (mushroom risotto), Žampionová polévka (mushroom soup), and Houbová smaženice (mushroom stir-fry).

Czech soup served in a bread bowl I | © Artur Orujaliev/Flickr

With the rise of the internet, people find it easier than ever to discover mushroom foraging tips and identification, but the information may not always be reliable. For example, an article circulated warning people about consuming mushrooms due to the radioactive fallout from Chernobyl, but the concentration of radioactive materials in most edible mushrooms is not dangerous.

During the second half of the twentieth century, there was a steep decline in mushroom growth, and people believed certain species were locally extinct, but there has been a resurgence in growth since then. This fluctuation has to do with environmental changes, particularly precipitation. In the Czech Republic, around three percent of the agricultural output is made by wild mushrooms, making it a significant source of income, especially in rural areas.

Written by: Jaime Johnston

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