Contents
A variety of mushrooms in the forest often complicates the search for edible specimens. The winter talker is one of the common species belonging to the Ryadovkov family, the genus Clitocybe or Govorushka. The Latin name is Clitocybe brumalis. This representative of the mushroom kingdom is edible, but it also has poisonous counterparts, the differences from which are presented below.
Where winter talkers grow
Fruits can be found in coniferous forests, on wet litter near trees. They grow in Europe, northern Africa, in the south of America. In Our Country, winter talkers are found in the Caucasus, Siberia and the Far East.
What winter talkers look like
Young fruits have a convex cap, over time it turns into a flat one, and then takes on a funnel shape. Its diameter does not exceed 5 cm. It is distinguished by a light color with fawn tones. The shade can be uniform or with brown spots.
The stem of the fruit practically does not differ in color from the cap. Its height is up to 4 cm, and its diameter is up to 0,5 cm. The legs have an elongated shape. Spores are white and oval in shape.
Is it possible to eat winter talkers
Mushrooms are allowed to be eaten, but they do not taste good. That’s why not everyone loves them. Usually used for cooking first and second courses.
Taste qualities of the mushroom govorushka winter
The flesh of this species is elastic, the aroma resembles a strong smell of raw flour or dust. The product is optionally dried, boiled and fried. Another winter talker can be salted, pickled and dried. These mushrooms have a bitter taste.
Benefits and harm to the body
Fruits are used as low-calorie foods, so they are found in many professional diets. The winter talker has the following valuable properties:
- Young hats contain a lot of vitamin B, macro- and microelements. They are rich in copper, zinc, manganese.
- The pulp removes toxins from the body.
- Since the product contains vegetable proteins, vitamins, fiber, amino acids and minerals, it reduces the risk of various ailments. Mushrooms can lower cholesterol. Their intake has a positive effect on the digestive system.
- In medicine, the antibacterial effect of fruits is appreciated. Decoctions of them help to eliminate tuberculosis manifestations. And the present clitocybin is used in drugs that treat epilepsy.
This is the property of all mushrooms. Therefore, you should not eat fruits collected near industrial enterprises and roads. This can cause food poisoning.
False doubles
The winter talker has many similarities with related representatives:
Smoky (gray) differs in color
The hat is greyish. The height of the leg is 6-10 cm, the diameter of the cap is 5-15 cm. The smoky species contains a dangerous substance – nebularin, therefore the talkers are classified as poisonous.
Fragrant, odorous or aniseed
It has a bluish-green color, which is different from winter. It belongs to edible specimens, but not everyone likes a strong smell.
Giant
Differs in large sizes. The cap diameter reaches 30 cm. This species is edible.
Collection rules
The winter talker is considered an autumn mushroom, the collection falls on September – October and continues until the first frost. Usually there are a lot of fruits in coniferous forests where spruce trees grow. This is a rare mushroom, so sometimes even a thorough search does not lead to a rich harvest.
It is advisable to engage in quiet hunting in clean areas. During the collection of the winter talker, you need to study the find and check whether it definitely belongs to this species. When in doubt, the fruiting body is left in the forest.
Use
Winter talker is an edible mushroom. Before preparing dishes from them, the fruits should be carefully processed. This procedure does not take much time and consists in cleansing the earth and debris. Then the fruit bodies are washed and boiled for 10 minutes in salt water. The liquid is drained, and the mushrooms are laid out in a colander. Let the water drain to remove excess moisture.
Boiled specimens can be eaten with cereals, salads, potatoes, meat dishes. Mushrooms marinated in vinegar sauce. Some housewives prefer to fry and salt the fruits, but not everyone likes such dishes.
Conclusion
The winter talker rarely grows in forests, so it will not be possible to harvest a large crop. It belongs to edible species, but not everyone likes its rich aroma. Harvest can be used for pickling, pickling. In order not to make a mistake when collecting, it is necessary to inspect the fruiting bodies on the spot. In case of any doubt, a suspicious copy is not taken into the basket.