Michael Davis
Blewit mushrooms, scientifically known as Clitocybe nuda, are edible wild mushrooms native to Europe and North America. They are also found in South America, Asia, and Oceania. Blewits have a distinctive shade of lilac, lavender, and purple, though their colour varies with age. They have a standard mushroom shape with a simple cap, a thick stalk, and tight gills. While they are considered delicious and safe to eat, they contain a toxic compound that can cause gastric discomfort if consumed in large quantities. Additionally, they may cause allergic reactions in certain individuals. Blewits can be confused with other mushrooms, including some toxic varieties, so proper identification is crucial before consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Psychedelic | No |
| Common Name | Blewit, Wood Blewit, Field Blewit, Blue Leg |
| Scientific Name | Clitocybe Nuda, Lepista Nuda, Tricholoma Nudum, Collybia Nuda |
| Colour | Lilac, Purple, Beige, Mauve, Cream, Brown, Violet, Burgundy |
| Smell | Mushroomy, Sweet Orange Juice, Perfumey |
| Taste | Meaty, Earthy, Strong |
| Texture | Silky Smooth, Suede-like |
| Shape | Standard "Mushroom" Shape, Simple Cap, Thick, Stocky Stalk, Tight Gills |
| Spores | Pale Pinkish |
| Spore Print | White |
| Season | Fall, Winter |
| Location | Temperate Climates, Hardwood Leaf Litter, Grassland, Grass with Trees Nearby, Wood Chips, Compost Piles, Old Newspapers |
| Edibility | Edible |
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What You'll Learn
- Blewit mushrooms are edible and have a strong flavour
- They can be cooked in a variety of ways, including as a cream sauce or sautéed in butter
- Blewits can be distinguished from poisonous Cortinarius mushrooms by their white spores, as opposed to the rusty orange spores of Cortinarius
- They are found in Europe and North America and are becoming more common in Australia and New Zealand
- Blewits have a standard mushroom shape with a simple cap, thick stalk and tight gills
Blewit mushrooms are edible and have a strong flavour
Blewit mushrooms, also known as wood blewits or Clitocybe nuda, are a species of edible fungi native to Europe and North America. They are widely consumed and known for their distinctive flavour and aroma. While they are safe to eat, it is important to distinguish them from similar-looking poisonous mushrooms, particularly those of the Cortinarius genus.
Blewit mushrooms have a standard "mushroom" shape, with a simple cap, a thick and stocky stalk, and tight gills. The cap is smooth and can range in colour from beige to mauve, lilac, purple, or even burgundy as the mushroom matures. The gills underneath the cap are a more intense shade of purple, and the stalk is usually bulbous at the bottom. Blewits often grow in loose arcs or rings, and they can be found in woodland areas, particularly under Live Oak trees, and near Cedar or Juniper Ash trees. They favour hardwood leaf litter and require a cold climate to fruit, so they are typically found during the fall and winter months.
One of the most distinctive features of blewits is their strong fragrance, which has been likened to frozen orange juice, perfume, lilacs, or fruit. This aroma, along with their spore print, can be used to distinguish them from other mushrooms. Blewits produce white to pale pink spores, while Cortinarius mushrooms, which can be poisonous, have rusty brown spores.
When it comes to cooking, blewit mushrooms are known for their strong flavour. They can be sautéed in butter, made into a cream sauce, cooked like tripe, or used as an omelette filling or stewing mushrooms. They combine well with leeks or onions and can be dried or preserved in olive oil or white vinegar after blanching.
While blewit mushrooms are edible and have culinary uses, it is crucial to accurately identify them to avoid consuming poisonous look-alikes. The Cortinarius genus, for example, shares similar colouring but can be distinguished by the remains of a veil under their caps and a ring-like impression on their stems. Additionally, their brown spores often dust their stems and the objects beneath them.
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They can be cooked in a variety of ways, including as a cream sauce or sautéed in butter
Blewit mushrooms, also known as Clitocybe nuda, are edible and can be cooked in a variety of ways. They have a delicate flavour that can be highlighted by cooking them in cream or sautéing them in butter. They can also be used in any recipe that calls for regular button mushrooms.
One way to cook blewits is by dry sautéing them. To do this, start by cleaning the mushrooms with a cloth or swishing them in water, then drying them with paper towels. Cut the mushrooms into thick pieces. Heat a cast-iron pan until hot, then add the mushrooms and season with salt. Cook until they are lightly browned and have released water. If the pan gets dry, add some oil. You can also toss the mushrooms with a knob of unsalted butter before cooking.
Another option is to wet sauté the blewits. To do this, add a splash of water to the pan and cook until the pan is nearly dry, then proceed as you would for a dry sauté. You can also add other ingredients to your sautéed blewits, such as shallots, tarragon, garlic, or onions.
Blewit mushrooms can also be used to make a cream sauce. For example, you can sauté the caps with onions in coconut oil and then make a coconut milk cream sauce to pour over chicken and rice. Alternatively, you can gently fry the mushrooms in butter and make a cream sauce for ricotta ravioli. Blewits can also be added to soups or stews, or used to make pickles.
When identifying blewits, it is important to distinguish them from similar-looking poisonous mushrooms, such as the Cortinarius mushroom. Blewits have a standard "mushroom" shape with a simple cap, thick stalk, and tight gills. The cap is often beige to mauve, but can also be lavender purple in humid conditions. The gills underneath the cap are lavender, while the stalk is bulbous at the bottom. Blewits often grow in loose arcs or rings and can be found in hardwood leaf litter under Live Oak trees and near Cedar or Juniper Ash trees.
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Blewits can be distinguished from poisonous Cortinarius mushrooms by their white spores, as opposed to the rusty orange spores of Cortinarius
Blewit mushrooms are edible and grow in temperate climates. They are also known as wood blewits or Clitocybe nuda. They have a standard "mushroom" shape with a simple cap, a thick, stocky stalk, and tight gills. The cap is smooth and can range in colour from beige to mauve, lilac, purple-pink, or burgundy. The gills are close together and the colour is concentrated underneath, although the stalk or stem will also be a little purple. Blewit mushrooms have a strong flavour and are often used in creamy sauces or sautéed in butter. They can be dried or preserved in olive oil or white vinegar.
Blewit mushrooms can be distinguished from poisonous Cortinarius mushrooms. The latter have a slimy, more purple cap and are generally more unpleasant-smelling. Cortinarius mushrooms include several toxic species that grow in the same habitat as blewits. One way to tell the difference between the two types of mushrooms is by creating a spore print. Blewit spores are white, while Cortinarius spores are rusty orange. To create a spore print, cut the cap off a mushroom and place it, gills down, on a white piece of paper. The spores should be light in colour, ranging from whitish dull pink to pinkish beige. In contrast, the Cortinarius mushroom will have rusty-coloured spores around the stem that match the colour of the visible rusty spores.
It is important to distinguish between blewits and Cortinarius mushrooms, as the latter is poisonous. While blewits have white spores, Cortinarius mushrooms have rusty orange spores that can be seen around the stem. In addition to the spore colour, the cap of the Cortinarius mushroom will be slimy and more purple.
Creating a spore print is a simple way to identify the type of mushroom. For blewits, the spore print will be white, while for Cortinarius mushrooms, it will be rusty orange. By examining the colour of the spores, you can easily distinguish between the two types of mushrooms and avoid consuming the poisonous Cortinarius variety.
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They are found in Europe and North America and are becoming more common in Australia and New Zealand
Blewit mushrooms, also known as Clitocybe nuda, are a worldwide species with a cousin, Lepista saeva, found in Europe. They are commonly found in Europe and North America and are becoming more common in Australia and New Zealand. In North America, blewits are found in Michigan, Central Texas, and Georgia. They are also found in the UK, specifically in Devon, England, and NE England.
Blewits are typically found in the wild, in the woods, around compost piles, and even in gardens. They are known to grow in leaf litter, especially under Live Oak trees and near Cedar or Juniper Ash trees. They have also been found in Australia, near Braidwood in southern New South Wales.
Blewits are a cool-weather mushroom, typically arriving in the Northeast and Pacific Coast around October and persisting all winter long, as long as there are no extended frosts. They need a heavy frost or freeze to initiate fruiting, so they will not fruit in tropical climates. They are often found in the fall and winter months, and as late as June in rainy years.
Blewits have a standard "mushroom" shape with a simple cap, a thick, stocky stalk, and tight gills. The cap is smooth, almost suede-like, and can range from beige to mauve or lavender purple, depending on the humidity. The lavender colour is concentrated underneath the gills, while the cap and stalk have a slight purple hue. The gills are close together and may appear shiny and iridescent when lit. The stalk is bulbous at the bottom and usually has leaves stuck to it when plucked from the ground.
Blewits are often found in loose arcs or rings, and it is rare to find just one. They add a mild, slightly sweet flavour and a silky smooth texture to dishes.
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Blewits have a standard mushroom shape with a simple cap, thick stalk and tight gills
Blewit mushrooms, also known as wood blewits, are a species of fungi native to Europe and North America. They are widely consumed edible mushrooms, often found in coniferous and deciduous woodlands. Blewits have a standard "mushroom" shape with a simple cap, thick stalk, and tight gills. The cap is smooth and can range in colour from lilac to purple-pink, with purplish tones on the stem and gills. Younger specimens tend to be lighter in colour, with more convex caps, while mature specimens have a darker colour and flatter cap. The gills are attached to the short, stout stem, which is typically 2-6 cm long and 1-2.5 cm wide, sometimes larger at the base.
Wood blewits can be distinguished by their distinctive odour, which has been likened to that of frozen orange juice, as well as by their spore print, which is white to pale pink. They are often found growing in leaf litter under oak trees and near cedar or juniper ash trees. Blewits need a heavy frost or freeze to initiate fruiting, so they are typically found during the fall and winter months.
It is important to distinguish blewits from similar-looking mushrooms, such as the poisonous Cortinarius species, which can have a similar lilac or purple colour. Cortinarius mushrooms often have the remains of a veil under their caps and a ring-like impression on their stems. To distinguish between the two, one can create a spore print, as blewits have white spores, while Cortinarius mushrooms have rusty orange spores.
Blewit mushrooms are considered a delicacy by many and can be cooked in a variety of ways. They have a strong flavour and combine well with leeks or onions. They can be dried or preserved in olive oil or white vinegar after blanching.
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Frequently asked questions
No, they are not psychedelic. However, they are known to cause allergic reactions in certain people.
Blewit mushrooms are famous for their distinctive purple, lilac, and lavender colour. They have a standard "mushroom" shape: a simple cap, a thick, stocky stalk, and tight gills. The cap is smooth and almost suede-like, and the gills are close together.
Blewit mushrooms are native to Europe and North America, but they can also be found in South America, Asia, and Oceania. They grow in woods, grasslands, and even urban settings, often fruiting during the colder months.
Yes, blewit mushrooms are edible and widely considered to be delicious. They have a fruity aroma and a nutty taste with a thick, moist texture. However, they contain a toxic compound that can cause gastric discomfort if consumed in large quantities, so it is important to cook them before eating.
