It is an incredibly enjoyable activity to collect mushrooms. The more experienced collectors often prefer to walk alone and their best collection spots are kept secret. However, it is actually a very cosy family experience to go mushroom hunting, because who finds the best ones, the most delicious, or even the most? – And on top of this, you are guaranteed to learn more about nature while doing it.

In reality, you can collect mushroom year round in Denmark, but high season runs from the beginning of July until the end of October before the frost really sets in. The harvest can however vary if the weather is too dry – mushrooms DO prefer large amounts of rain and heat.

Chanterelles and many other goodies

Many people consider chanterelles to be the most delicious mushrooms for eating. They appear around July and the chanterelle season lasts into autumn. They are followed by many other delicious types of mushroom – e.g. the delicate King Bolete mushroom. They are mainly found in leave and pine forests, whereas field mushrooms, as the name implies, grow in the fields.

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Equipment for mushroom hunting

Gathering mushrooms is a cheap joy; all you need to bring along is a small, sharp knife, a brush and a basket.

We also highly recommend bringing along a mushroom guide so you can find out whether the mushrooms are edible or inedible – or maybe even poisonous - on the way. Try asking at the local tourist office whether they have a mushroom folder with specific mushrooms of the area.

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Guided mushroom tours

Both the Danish Forest and Nature Agency, the Danish Society for Nature Conservation and the local tourist offices arrange guided mushroom tours, which can provide you with plenty of good information about the mushrooms you put in your basket.

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How to clean the mushrooms

Mushrooms should not be washed; they often go soft and boring under water. Instead use a small brush to remove sand, soil and pine needles which have stuck to the lamella and stems of the mushroom. You can split the mushroom to get better access with the brush.

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Good advise and mushroom etiquette

- Only eat mushrooms which you are certain are edible.
- Do not eat the mushrooms raw, many of the best ones are poisonous when raw.
- Avoid picking too small and young mushrooms; give them a chance to grow so there are some left for the next time you visit.
- Preferably prepare the mushrooms the same day – otherwise they loose too much of their aroma.
- Do not save and store mushroom dish leftovers more than one or two days in the refrigerator.

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Storing mushrooms

If you are lucky to find more mushrooms than you can eat, you can either dry, freeze or pickle them and bring them home as a delicious souvenir.

The simplest thing is to dry the mushrooms and put them in glasses or small jars. Small mushrooms can be put on a line and hung outside or inside if the air is sufficiently dry. However, you can also put the mushrooms in the oven on a grid at a very low heat and with the oven door slightly ajar – it takes some time, but the result is great.

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Useful links

On the Danish Mycological Society's homepage, you can find good pieces of advice and information, both popular and scientific.

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