The five best funghi for mushroom foraging in Copenhagen
On a clear day, going out into nature in search of mushrooms can be a lovely activity, provided you have the right equipment and knowledge.
That’s why I’m putting together a little guide about the best mushrooms to search for in and around Copenhagen.
A growing passion for fungi
The explosion of New Nordic cuisine has triggered a rise in foraging and encouraged people to form a greater understanding of the ecosystems in which they live. Knowing what grows around us in the towns, cities and villages where we live not only provides wholesome activities, but can put tasty (free) dishes on our plates and give us a look at how our ancestors would have lived off the land. The vast mycelial networks which connect fungi also give us fascinating insights into this entirely overlooked genus, more closely related to humans that they are to plants.
I’ve included a few of my favourite dishes from foraged mushrooms, but there is no end to the delicious recipes you can cook up. Of course, one has to be careful of what one is foraging for, as seemingly edible funghi in and around our forests, moors and woodlands can be dangerously poisonous and potentially fatal. For this reason I want to give a disclaimer that this guide is by no means a guide to what is safe to eat.
There are around 3000 species of mushrooms in Denmark and it can be hard to determine which one you have in front of you.
I would encourage you to find a funghi expert to accompany you on your first few expeditions, or at least to come equiped with a funghi identificaiton book or app.
Make sure you only ingest mushrooms you are 100% sure of what they are, never eat them raw, and only ingest small amounts at first in case you or friends are allergic.
With that being said, the woodlands and marshes in and around Copenhagen provide excellent chanterelle, King Bolete mushroom, and common mushroom, so let’s take the microscope out and study those in a bit more detail.
Where to find mushrooms in Copenhagen?
You can find edible mushrooms in most wooded areas in Denmark. Unlike its nordic neighbours, Denmark doesn’t have allemannsretten to roam across nature, so its best to use public forest and nature reserves where you can freely wander anywhere, rather than privately owned areas - where you won’t be allowed to leave the path.
What to bring on your mushroom hunt?
A Mushroom basket - Find a carrier made of organic materials which will allow the mushrooms to breath, avoid them getting damp and help them spread their spores as you continue your walk through the forest.
Mushroom knife - A small, sharp knife to snip the mushrooms from soil or trees, and remove ‘bad’ parts.
Mushroom book or identification app - As mentioned above, this is a necessity to know what to look out for, what is safe to eat and what should be avoided.
A map - to mark down the best mushroom spots (and to help find your way back home!).
When is the best time to look for mushrooms in Denmark?
It is possible to find mushrooms in Denmark throughout the year, but the best time is during the autumn from September to November. Mushrooms love dampness and moisture, so if you’ve had a wet August or early September get out in the woods and start searching - you’re sure to strike gold .
Karl Johan
(aka ‘edible Boletus’, aka ‘Penny Bun’)
As you can see, there are a lot of names for this delicious and plentiful fungus. In Scandinavia it’s most often called the Karl Johan after the Swedish king who loved to eat the mushroom.
It mainly grows around beech and spruce trees between August until October, especially after rainy periods.
They are easily to identify because of hte nut-brown ‘hat’ on top and the brownish/white stems. If you find any in your forays, check for worms or insect consumption before you pick them. If all looks good, enjoy them in a tasy risotto.
2. Common chanterelle
The common chanterelle can be found all across Denmark, most often around deciduous and coniferous trees. They start growing a little earlier than others on this list, appearing in July and lasting in woodlands until November frosts.
As you can see from the image, the mushroom is easy to recognize with the yellow colour and wavy edges. Chanterelles in Danish supermarkets sell for a high price for their distinctive, nutty flavour; meaning a short trip out to the woodland for some foraging is worth the effort!
3. Funnel chanterelle
Just like the common chanterelle, the funnel chanterelle is found in deciduous and coniferous forest, around mossy, damp soil.
It also looks very similar, with the distinctive funnel-shaped hat and the wavy edge - differing only in its grey-brown colour on the top, and generally being slightly smaller than the common variety (pictured, image credit: WildfoodUK).
The best and most popular way of cooking them is searing in a warm pan in oil or butter .
4. Honey Fungus
Crazily enough, this fungus is the largest living organism on Earth. A single organism’s vast mycelial networks can cover tens of kilometres and live up to 1500 years.
The honey names comes just from the golden colour, not the taste. You can spot them in and around Copenhagen from the ring on their stem and their golden-yellow hat, which is dark at the centre and holds a concentration of loose scales. You can make delicous autumnal soups, broths and stews with honey fungus, or even grind the stems to make mushroom flour.
5. Crab Brittlegrill
This final mushroom is probably one of the most sought after by foragers. The ‘crab’ in its name refers to its distinctive (and delicious) seafood flavour, making it an exceptional addition to fish and seafood dishes.
Spot crab brittlegrill by its porous structure (pictured) and fragile stems, as well as its dark red hat and pinkish stem.
Add these to garnish white fish, lobster and other shellfish, or to salads, sauces and stews.
Cleaning and preparing your mushrooms
As I mentioned above, always make sure to properly cook your mushrooms before consuming, quite a few contain potentially harmful substances which are only safe to consume after cooking.
Clean your mushrooms with a damp cloth or brush, and don’t be afraid to give them a quick rinse to remove soil - it’s a misconception that you shouldn’t use water to clean fungi, just don’t drown them by soaking in water.
Now get out there and find some delicious mushrooms. Happy hunting!
Exploring more of Scandinavia
Enjoy this article? Want to add more suggestions of fungi to harvest in Denmark, or recipes you have used? Leave a comment below.
If you want to get more inspiration of what to do and see out in nature, check out my guide to the Klampenborg park north of Copenhagen, a great spot for mushroom foraging.
Or find out some of the best spots for wild swimming in Copenhagen, from purpose-build lidos to world-famous beaches.
Want to escape the cities for a while? Check out my guide to Gilleleje below:
Visit Gilleleje
A seaside getaway for nature lovers.
