They can be distinguished by their small to medium size and the rounded, convex caps that thicken to a stout stem. As they age, the caps will flatten out, making them look slightly more prominent and will begin to grow a brown scale texture and spots over the lid. If you catch them early, you will notice a smooth, dry cap that is white, and the edges are curled in which makes them very distinguishable from other mushrooms. If you lift the mushroom, it is upside down; they are a beige, white shade with attached gills. Not many people think of mushrooms, but these are known for their unusual cinnamon and pine scent.

These expensive mushrooms fall around mid-winter, which is the reason for their cinnamon, pine scent. Matsutake mushrooms are full of vitamin D, which can be an easy way to add to your diet because there are endless ways to incorporate these mushrooms into your dishes. Most people struggle to have enough vitamin B3, copper, and potassium, as it’s hard to come across unless you take supplements. Still, these mushrooms are full of them, so they are an easy option to have and use in taste.

The younger these mushrooms are, the more cherished they are for great taste. Unlike other mushrooms, they take a little longer to clean. Clean them with a damp cloth; otherwise, if they take too much water, they will become heavy and too wet, which will ruin them’ overall taste and texture. They are best in simple dishes such as soups, chowders, and rice.
If you are looking to pair them to boost their flavor, they complement foods such as onion, garlic, ginger, fish, snow peas, potatoes, and lemon juice as these will allow the mistake mushrooms to add some vibrancy to the dish. If you are buying them in advanced, then they keep up for ten days if they are kept in a paper bag, but they can keep for up to a year if they are frozen, so it’s great if you want to buy them in the fall to mid-winter then keep them in the freezer so you can enjoy them all year round.

Look out for that distinguished shape of smooth rounded caps with thickening stout with a wintery pine and cinnamon scent. With them being full of vitamin D, vitamin B3, copper, and potassium, they are favored to add to any diet to boost their digestive system, skin, and bones. They can easily create a talking point at any event party for their vibrant taste yet easy to use.

Until next time friends,