Edith's Tips For Hunting Matsutake
The North American Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare) are a fairly elusive mushroom. Although they will fruit in the same place year after year, they never seem to show up in the quantity that you want. Matsutake has a reputation in Japan as being an aphrodisiac. For that reason, it occasionally sells for ridiculously high prices. This is the mushroom you hear about selling for 100 dollars apiece in Japan and often the pickers like my dad carry guns. Putting traditions and speculated medicinal values aside, let’s face it, any food with that kind of price tag that is served at a fancy restaurant will act as an aphrodisiac for any would-be suitor.
The Japanese may pay top dollar for these mushrooms, but they don’t just slice them up and put them on their pizza. Matsutake are best known and easily identified by their smell, a unique cinnamon aroma provided by the chemical Methyl Cinnamate. The mushrooms are quite fragrant. You will find that a little goes a long way. A few slices will add a special flavor to a whole pot of rice, while at the same time, raising the value astronomically.
The Japanese may pay top dollar for these mushrooms, but they don’t just slice them up and put them on their pizza. Matsutake are best known and easily identified by their smell, a unique cinnamon aroma provided by the chemical Methyl Cinnamate. The mushrooms are quite fragrant. You will find that a little goes a long way. A few slices will add a special flavor to a whole pot of rice, while at the same time, raising the value astronomically.
The North American Matsutake is most often found in the Pacific Northwest. While it is found on the West side of the Cascade Mountains, it is far more common on the Eastern slopes of the mountain range. The name Matsutake literally translates to Pine (matsu) mushroom (take). Therefore, it seems logical to look for them around Pine trees. In this case, White Pines which commonly grow at higher elevations of the Eastern Cascade forests. Find a middle aged forest with a mix of Douglas Fir and White Pines and you will probably find these mushrooms. I often tell people “look for white mushrooms around White Pines”. It seems to be true that both White Chanterelles and Matsutake prefer these types of mature mixed White Pine and Douglas Fir forests.
Enough about the where to look question. An equally important question is when to look. Early Fall, after the first rains is your best bet. Matsutake are most valuable in their immature button phase, so you want to get them early. Preferably, so early that they are still pretty much hidden under the forest duff layer. Look for “mushrumps” which are small humps made in the duff by the mushroom pushing up from below. With a little practice, you will recognize the Matsutake before you dig it out of the duff.
Finding these mushrooms can be tricky because they will grow right along side other mushrooms. One of the Matsutake’s common names is the “Pine Spike”. This name reflects the shape of the Matsutake’s stem which tapers to a point. When you dig one up make sure you get the whole thing. This tapered stem, the presence of an annulus (ring), cinnamon colored blotches on the cap and the unique smell of methyl cinnamate are the best way to identify Matsutake.
For the experienced mushroom picker, there are few mushrooms that provide the thrill of finding Matsutake in the woods. This is about the closest thing us mushroom pickers get to what adrenaline junkies call a rush!
Enough about the where to look question. An equally important question is when to look. Early Fall, after the first rains is your best bet. Matsutake are most valuable in their immature button phase, so you want to get them early. Preferably, so early that they are still pretty much hidden under the forest duff layer. Look for “mushrumps” which are small humps made in the duff by the mushroom pushing up from below. With a little practice, you will recognize the Matsutake before you dig it out of the duff.
Finding these mushrooms can be tricky because they will grow right along side other mushrooms. One of the Matsutake’s common names is the “Pine Spike”. This name reflects the shape of the Matsutake’s stem which tapers to a point. When you dig one up make sure you get the whole thing. This tapered stem, the presence of an annulus (ring), cinnamon colored blotches on the cap and the unique smell of methyl cinnamate are the best way to identify Matsutake.
For the experienced mushroom picker, there are few mushrooms that provide the thrill of finding Matsutake in the woods. This is about the closest thing us mushroom pickers get to what adrenaline junkies call a rush!
Photo By Jordan Armstrong.
