What does the Crimean mountain porcini mushroom look like and its description (+22 photos)

The Crimean Peninsula's natural beauty is so unique, and its climate so unpredictable, that even a professional mushroom picker who has lived there their entire life never knows when the quiet season will begin. Thanks to its unique climate, the peninsula is home to numerous mushroom species, one of which is the Crimean porcini (or giant porcini), which has rightfully earned the title of "king" of Crimean mushrooms.

Characteristic features of the Crimean porcini mushroom

All mushrooms have their own morphological and species-specific characteristics, and this variety is no exception. The giant talker belongs to the Trichophyceae family and the Belosvinukha genus.

Appearance and photo

Before you go hunting for a mountain mushroom, you need to know exactly what it looks like. Identifying it isn't difficult. To avoid confusing the Belosvinukha with an inedible variety, simply study its description and look at a photo.

The giant talker is a fairly large, white specimen. However, as the white pig grows, its cap can acquire a pleasant light coffee-colored hue.

The appearance changes slightly as the mushroom matures. As the fruiting body grows, both the color and shape of the cap change. Immature mushrooms have a flat-convex cap, which becomes a deep funnel as they mature. The cap surface may sometimes crack into scales. This typically only occurs with very old mushrooms.

Belosvinukha has a pleasant, mild mushroom aroma and dense or creamy flesh that does not change color when cut.

Structure and species differences

The giant white pig mushroom is widely popular among Crimean mushroom pickers.

Hat:

1. Dense and fleshy, it's quite large. Its diameter ranges from 8 to 30 cm.
2. Colour – from white to light coffee (cream).
3. As the cap grows, its shape changes. While it's initially flat and convex, over time it takes on a funnel-shaped form with a deep depression in the center. There are bridges on the underside of the cap.

Leg:

1. Texture – dense.
2. The size of the stem is not significant when compared to the size of the cap, since its length is 4-7 cm, and the thickness is 2.5-3.5 cm.
3. A powdery coating may appear on the light, almost white or white stem.
4. The shape is club-shaped or barrel-shaped, thickening towards the bottom.

Pulp:

1. White or cream color.
2. It has a faint floury odor.

Microscopy:

1. White spore powder.
2. Amyloid, smooth spores, 6-8×3-4 µm in size, are located on basidia, 4 pieces on each.
3. The shape of the spores is elliptical.

Place of distribution of the fungus

The Crimean white mountain mushroom, as its name suggests, most often grows in mountainous areas and on yaylas (flat, treeless areas in the Crimean Mountains). It can also be found in deciduous forests and foothills. The Ai-Petri Yayla and the area near Mount Demeredzhi are among the best places to collect the giant white pig mushroom.

Consumption

It belongs to the conditionally edible species, which can be eaten boiled, fried, pickled and baked, that is, only after heat treatment.

Rules and conditions for collecting Crimean white mushrooms

When harvesting giant pigweed, extreme caution is necessary, as only young specimens are recommended for consumption. Giant pigweed can be harvested from April through September.

The talker mushroom should be carefully cut off with a sharp knife, almost at ground level. Do not pull or twist the fruiting body, as this will damage the mycelium.

Basic recommendations

The Crimean Peninsula is home to a wide variety of mushrooms, and not all of them are edible. Before heading out on a "silent" hunt, it's important to familiarize yourself with simple recommendations that will help avoid adverse effects.

Firstly, you need to know what this type of white pig looks and smells like, and secondly, you need to familiarise yourself with the place where it grows.

This variety is particularly perishable, so it's recommended to collect it in a wicker basket. This will prevent the produce from becoming crushed or overheating, as it would in a plastic bag or bucket. It's best to place the "harvest" in the container with the caps facing down, which will minimize the risk of damage to the fruiting body.

To prolong the life of the already cut "harvest", it is better to go hunting early in the morning, since under the influence of sunlight, the white pigs rot and spoil faster.

Distinction from false, inedible mushrooms

As a rule, the giant white pig is difficult to confuse with other species, since no other specimen has both a white color and such an impressive cap size.

The mountain mushroom not only has a delicious taste, but also has no inedible false lookalikes. Only mushrooms from the Govorushka genus can be remotely similar, but the size, shape, and color of the cap make them impossible to confuse.

Useful properties and limitations

The giant pig mushroom possesses not only nutritional value but also pharmacological activity. The giant pig mushroom synthesizes the antibiotic clitocybin A and B, which is effective against tuberculosis bacteria. The mushrooms also contain a large number of microelements essential for the human body, including zinc, copper, manganese, and B vitamins.

In addition, they stimulate the elimination of waste, toxins, and other harmful substances from the body and are used in dietary nutrition. This species of white pig is used in the production of certain medications, such as Nebularin, Clitocybin, and others.

Recipes and cooking features

The harvested mushrooms must be boiled for 20-30 minutes in two stages. However, before boiling, they must be thoroughly cleaned of debris and rinsed to remove dirt and sand, paying particular attention to the area under the cap. The mushrooms can also be soaked in water; simply soak the mushrooms in water for 10-15 minutes.

The mushrooms are boiled in salted water. The cleaned and prepared "harvest" is placed in a container of boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes, after which the water is drained and the mushrooms are rinsed. Then, the mushrooms are immersed again in clean water with added salt and boiled for another 10-20 minutes until tender.

The most common dish made with talkerushki is vinaigrette. To prepare it, you'll need:

1. Boiled carrots (2 pcs.).
2. Boiled potatoes (2 pcs).
3. Boiled beets (1 pc).
4. Marinated white pigs (300g).
5. Onion (1 pc).

All ingredients are cut into large cubes and mixed. Vegetable oil or lemon juice can be used as a dressing. This dish makes a great accompaniment to potatoes or pasta. However, it doesn't pair well with meat or fish.

Answers to frequently asked questions

The Crimean white mushroom is a rather exotic species found in Crimea. Although it is classified as conditionally edible, it remains widely popular among mushroom pickers, who often venture into the mountains or yaylas specifically for this purpose.