Czech Shroomin' : a fanatical pastime

by Adrian Barek

photos by Luke Sturges

If Elmer Fudd were a vegetarian he might say “Shhhh! Be vewy vewy quiet, I’m hunting mushwooms. Ehehehehehe.’ Elmer Fudd is a fictional character but mushroom hunting is a bona fide activity that is quite popular in various regions of Europe. Meandering through a forest in search of wild mushrooms is a well-established tradition in many Slavic cultures.  The sport, if you can call it that, is also practiced in Nordic and Baltic countries.

According to the AP, a small town in Latvia recently hosted its 2nd annual mushroom hunting contest. The winning team collected over 11lbs of mushrooms in the two hour time limit. In lieu of prize money the champions won the right to eat their champignons.

A person who studies mushrooms is a mycologist but no fancy title is required to take part in the mushroom hunt; all you need is a wicker basket, a knife and a keen pair of eyes. Western books on the subject are rife with dire warnings about what can happen if you eat the wrong kind of mushroom. Attitudes in Europe are more relaxed, at least in part because mushroom hunting is generally a family activity and children are taught from a young age the difference between the delectable and deadly varieties.

There are few things in the natural world that offer as diverse an array of effects as mushrooms. The edible varieties present a culinary ingredient from the everyday shitake up to the uber-exclusive truffle. Some strains are prescribed for their medicinal properties while others can send you on the trip of a lifetime. Still others, such as the aptly named Death Cap, will cause you agonizing death should you be so careless as to eat them.

During the Cold War, the Czechoslovak ambassador to England was observed taking long, solitary walks in various woodlands and was soon suspected of espionage. The British Security Service MI5 kept close tabs on the ambassador but after staking out one of his forest walks they realized the only spying he was up to was on fungi. 

Last weekend I took part in my first mushroom hunt and despite reservations found myself caught up in the spirit of things. There are plenty of mushrooms growing in the forest but the challenge is to find the really good ones. I’ll say this much, not since playing Mario Bros. 3 on NES have I been so excited about located a mushroom.

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