Emily Johnson
Mushrooms in Puerto Rico are a diverse bunch, with the island's fertile soil, lush tropical climate, and local flora and fauna facilitating a spectacular array of native varieties. In Puerto Rico, mushrooms are called hongos, or champiñones in Spanish. While mushrooms are certainly part of Puerto Rico's culinary scene, with dishes like grilled mushroom choripán and mushroom alcapurrias, the island also has a variety of wild mushrooms, some of which are toxic, like the false parasol, and others that are psychoactive, like Psilocybe cubensis, which is illegal to possess or cultivate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to say 'mushroom' in Puerto Rico | "Hongos", "Champiñones", "Setas" |
| Edible mushrooms in Puerto Rico | Cremini, Oyster, Lion's Mane, Agericus campestrus |
| Toxic mushrooms in Puerto Rico | False Parasol, Landslide Mushroom (Psilocybe caerulescens), Purple-spored puffball, White-rot fungus, Bridal veil stinkhorn (Phallus indusiatus) |
| Psychedelic mushrooms in Puerto Rico | Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe banderillensis, Psilocybe zapotecoantillarum, Panaeolus antillarum |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Mushroom' in Puerto Rico is translated to Hongos in Spanish
- Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are illegal in Puerto Rico
- Mushrooms are part of Puerto Rico's vision for food sovereignty
- Mushrooms are used in Puerto Rican cuisine
- Puerto Rico's fertile soil and tropical climate facilitate a rich variety of mushrooms
'Mushroom' in Puerto Rico is translated to Hongos in Spanish
Mushrooms are an important part of Puerto Rico's culinary scene and could be the key to the island's food sovereignty. The native varieties of mushrooms that thrive in the hot and humid climate of Puerto Rico are being increasingly used in local cuisine. For instance, at Taberna Medalla, a beer garden in San Juan, seasoned and grilled mushrooms are served in a bun, topped with a green recao chimichurri. At Suma Mesa + Barra in Old San Juan, cremini mushrooms from Setas de Puerto Rico are used to create an elegant vegan version of the fried beach snack, alcapurria.
While discussing the various types of mushrooms found in Puerto Rico, it is important to note that the Spanish translation for the word "mushroom" is "hongos". This translation is applicable in Puerto Rico as well, where "mushroom" is translated as "hongos" in Spanish. In addition to "hongos", other Spanish words for "mushroom" include "champiñones" and "setas". However, the usage of these terms may vary depending on the region.
Puerto Rico is home to a diverse range of mushrooms, some of which are edible, while others are toxic. The false parasol, for example, is infamous for its toxicity and resembles the commonly eaten Agericus campestrus mushroom. On the other hand, edible mushrooms like the purple-spored puffball, with its distinctive large, round, or pear-shaped fruiting body, can be found in the prairies and meadows of Puerto Rico.
The island also has a variety of psychedelic mushrooms, such as Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe banderillensis, and Psilocybe zapotecoantillarum, which are illegal to possess or consume. Despite their illegality, these mushrooms can be found growing on cow dung, highly fertilized soils, and moss in forests across the island.
In conclusion, the Spanish translation for "mushroom" in Puerto Rico is indeed "hongos". However, it is worth noting that Puerto Rico offers a diverse range of mushrooms, both in terms of culinary applications and their potential therapeutic benefits.
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Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are illegal in Puerto Rico
Psilocybin-containing mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, are illegal in Puerto Rico. The Controlled Substances Act considers psilocybin a Schedule I substance, which means that simple possession is a felony. Penalties for a first conviction range from three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Subsequent offences carry harsher penalties, ranging from six to ten years in prison. If charged with the intent to sell, the mandatory minimum sentence is 20 years in prison and a fine of $25,000.
While magic mushroom spores can be purchased legally in Puerto Rico, as they do not contain psilocybin, cultivating magic mushrooms is illegal. However, the island is home to a diverse variety of naturally-occurring psychedelic mushrooms. Psilocybe cubensis, for example, can be found growing on cow dung or highly fertilised soils in the Barranquitas area. Psilocybe caerulescens, which prefers sunny spots and muddy grounds, spreads gregariously from June to October. Psilocybe guilartensis, a native species, grows gregariously mainly in clay or moss and can be found in forests such as the Monte Guilarte State Forest. Psilocybe banderillensis and Psilocybe zapotecoantillarum can also be spotted growing on moss in forests.
Despite the illegality of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, there are growing calls for the reclassification of psilocybin. Leading medical and scientific institutions, such as John Hopkins Medicine, advocate for this due to the substance's low abuse potential and therapeutic benefits. Research indicates that psilocybin may be helpful in treating PTSD, cluster headaches, addiction, depression, and existential anxiety in terminally ill patients. Additionally, microdosing psilocybin has been linked to improved problem-solving skills and enhanced creativity.
In terms of terminology, the Spanish word for mushroom is "hongos", while "champiñones" refers specifically to "button mushrooms", and "setas" is another term used in some regions.
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Mushrooms are part of Puerto Rico's vision for food sovereignty
In Puerto Rico, the commonly spoken languages are Spanish and English. In Spanish, mushrooms are called "setas", "hongos", or "champiñones".
In Puerto Rico, mushrooms are being used as a means to achieve food sovereignty, or the ability of a region or nation to produce all of its own food. This is especially important given the island's history of not being allowed the right of self-governance since the arrival of Columbus. Efforts to modernize the economy in the mid-20th century pushed rural populations into cities, leading to a reliance on U.S. agribusiness. Today, there is a youth-led focus on agroecology and creating a food-secure future for Puerto Rico. This would require support via subsidies and higher wages, as well as cultural change. A 2017 report found that Puerto Rico could be a leader in tropical agriculture that supports food security while still allowing for a diverse economy.
Mushrooms are well-suited to Puerto Rico's hot and humid climate and can be foraged or cultivated. Native varieties of mushrooms that can thrive in this climate are an important part of the vision for food sovereignty. Huerto Rico, for example, is working to identify and cultivate native mushrooms. They started out with nonnative types because they were the only strains available to cultivate at scale. Now, they are partnering with a fungal parataxonomist, Kurt Miller, who is documenting the archipelago’s native mushrooms.
Puerto Rico also has specialty mushroom cultivation operations, including Wild Culture Mushrooms, which supplies cultivated oyster and lion's mane mushrooms to chefs like Rafael Fonseca, who uses them in a guisado (stew) and a galette with seasoned oyster mushrooms over a cauliflower puree. The largest commodity business, Setas de Puerto Rico, has also overseen a youthful rebrand of its mushroom products. Chefs are now putting mushrooms on menus in ways that complement traditional Puerto Rican flavors. For example, at Taberna Medalla, a beer garden in San Juan, they serve a play on the Argentine choripán, using a seasoned and grilled mushroom in a bun topped with a green recao chimichurri.
Through these efforts, mushrooms are playing an important role in Puerto Rico's vision for food sovereignty.
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Mushrooms are used in Puerto Rican cuisine
Mushrooms, known as "setas" in Puerto Rico, have never been considered a staple of Puerto Rican cuisine. However, chefs are increasingly incorporating them into their menus in ways that complement traditional flavours. For example, at Taberna Medalla, a beer garden in the Condado neighbourhood of San Juan, they serve a play on the Argentine choripán, using a seasoned and grilled mushroom in a bun, topped with green recao chimichurri. This dish nods to the dominant herb in Puerto Rican sofrito. At the upscale Suma Mesa + Barra in Old San Juan, cremini mushrooms from Setas de Puerto Rico are used to create an elegant vegan version of the fried beach snack, alcapurria, made with a dough of green banana and root vegetables.
Rafael Fonseca, chef and owner of Flora in Aguadilla on Puerto Rico’s west coast, sources cultivated oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms from Wild Culture Mushrooms, another start-up based in Aguada, Puerto Rico. Fonseca uses these mushrooms in a guisado (stew) and in a galette with seasoned oyster mushrooms over a cauliflower puree. Wild Culture Mushrooms also runs a café and market in San Juan, where mushroom enthusiasts can sip on myco-lattes (such as Lion’s Mane Matcha or Reishi Taro), purchase wellness products like mushroom extracts and infused honeys, and discover rare finds like wild-foraged chanterelles.
In addition to these culinary uses, mushrooms are also being explored as a path towards food sovereignty in Puerto Rico. Huerto Rico, a specialty culinary mushroom business founded by Sebastían Sagardia, has been at the forefront of this movement. Huerto Rico initially started with non-native mushroom strains as they were the only ones available to cultivate at scale, but the company has now partnered with a fungal parataxonomist to document the archipelago’s native mushrooms. This push for food sovereignty through mushrooms is part of a broader youth-led focus on agroecology, which aims to create a food-secure future for Puerto Rico that is sustainable for farmers and accessible to the population.
Medicinal mushrooms, such as wood ear mushrooms (Auricularia auricula-judae), also have a place in Puerto Rico. While they have been a staple in Asian cuisine for centuries, they are gaining attention in Puerto Rico for their rich medicinal properties and culinary versatility.
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Puerto Rico's fertile soil and tropical climate facilitate a rich variety of mushrooms
Puerto Rico is home to a diverse range of mushroom species, boasting a unique and vibrant ecosystem. The island's fertile soil, an array of local flora and fauna, and its lush tropical climate all contribute to a rich variety of mushrooms.
The climate in Puerto Rico is ideal for mushrooms, with its high humidity and warm temperatures. This climate has allowed for the growth of native varieties such as the highly coveted tropical chanterelles and truffles, which can be found around abundant coastal seagrape trees. The Wood Ear mushroom is another native species that is easily found after rainfall and has proven resilient to the weather.
Puerto Rico's ecosystem also includes toxic mushrooms such as the False Parasol, which resembles the commonly eaten Agericus campestrus but is distinguished by its green spore print. Other toxic species include the Earliella scabrosa, which grows on decaying tree trunks and branches, and the Split Gill, which is not recommended to be smelled due to the risk of spores sprouting in nasal passages.
The island is also home to Psilocybe cubensis, a strain of magic mushrooms known for its exceptional potency and growth characteristics. These mushrooms thrive in the warm, humid environments of Puerto Rico, mirroring their natural habitat.
The cultivation and foraging of mushrooms have become an important part of Puerto Rico's food sovereignty movement, with chefs and entrepreneurs believing that the adaptive nature of mushrooms may hold a key to survival in the face of disasters like Hurricane Maria and the impacts of climate change. The goal is to create a food-secure future for the island, with sustainable local production that is accessible to the population.
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Frequently asked questions
The Spanish word for mushroom is "hongo", but Puerto Ricans may also use "champiñón" to refer specifically to button mushrooms, or "seta".
Some common mushrooms found in Puerto Rico include the false parasol, purple-spored puffball, white-rot fungus, and bridal veil stinkhorn.
No, magic mushrooms are illegal in Puerto Rico. Possession of psilocybin, the psychoactive component of magic mushrooms, is considered a felony and can result in penalties of up to five years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine for a first conviction.
