Matsutake Hunting in the Olympic Mountains- Amazing Patch!

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  • čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
  • The Olympic mountains of Washington State are home to Matsutake mushrooms, A fungus highly revered in Japan and in upscale restaurants around the world. An elusive, beautiful, fragrant mushroom that barely breaches the surface of the soil can be found during a small window during the later part of autumn in this temperate region. They grow from the mountain tops all the way to sea level, and associate with Douglas and Grand Fir in the mountains, and pine trees on the coast. At one time in their history these mushrooms, when picked at the right stage of development, could sell for $300 per pound here in Washington State.
    The mushrooms have held a place if culinary importance in Japan and are revered as an aphrodisiac and food for the well to do or for special occasions, as their significance is culturally diminishing, so does their price on the market, driving down the need for heavy commercial picking and export. During the late 1990s these mushrooms were discovered growing also in China and Korea, partially due to new infrastructure of roads and ability to export, the global market drove the value of these mushrooms down even further. On a good year here in Washington they still can fetch $15 a pound for number one buttons.
    In this video Aaron Hilliard, of the Kitsap Peninsula Mycological Society, takes us to a journey to the southeast Olympic mountains, a tectonic range in Western Washington on the Olympic Peninsula, to discover what these mushrooms look like in their habitat, how to harvest them and their various stages of growth. Come along on this journey to discover these beautiful mushrooms, as well as surprise finds of lobster mushrooms, a strange symbiotic relationship between two different fungi that create a beautiful and stunning gourmet delight. We also discover a queen Bolete, Boletus regineus.
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    We will not accept any responsibility for negligence or accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms or plants. These videos are not intended to be a definitive field guide, but rather a starting point to become familiar with habitat,. Everyone is encouraged to do their own studies, acquire literature or internet resources to safely and confidently identify wild foods before they eat them.
    When eating a new wild mushroom, it is advised to start with only a small amount, and make sure that it is fresh and that it is cooked thoroughly. Some mushrooms do not agree with certain individuals, and this is typically discovered on a case-by-case basis. Even the most edible of mushrooms contain compounds that can be tough for the human digestive tract to handle. Some “edible” species have small amounts of certain toxins that will easily break down with cooking. Fungi contains a molecule known as chitin that is the same thing that makes the exoskeleton of shellfish so hard, and cannot be broken down by the human digestive system, so it is another good reason to thoroughly cook mushrooms.
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    Mushroom Wonderland and Aaron himself have no opinion and neither encourage nor discourage the use of mushrooms containing mind-altering compounds. These mushrooms contain powerful chemicals and should be treated with a high level of responsibility. Any video topics on the habitat, natural distribution, and morphological features of psychoactive mushrooms portrayed on this channel are purely for scientific and educational purposes.
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Komentáře • 107

  • @MegaGraham30
    @MegaGraham30 Před 9 měsíci +14

    I'm on the other side of the world but love your videos so much. 🇮🇪 🍄

    • @rbtjorg
      @rbtjorg Před 9 měsíci +1

      I’m from the Pacific Northwest but have ties to Ireland :)
      What part are you from?

  • @mercatorfilms
    @mercatorfilms Před 9 měsíci +4

    1:22 "Beautiful and untouched place" meanwhile logging truck casually rolls by. Nice references here. I am a huge fan of your work spreading information about the beautiful lands around us. Love this seeing more of these forests walks, super great info!!

  • @russellzauner
    @russellzauner Před 9 měsíci +4

    I'm near the northern coast range in Oregon, if you are anywhere around there you should be able to follow this channel up on the Olympic Peninsula and find the same mushrooms. One could literally follow along with the video and find the right ones that way, even if you really don't know much they're sharing so much of the *how* rather than the *which* you should be able to hunt them down like a pro.

  • @naturallynorthwest9748
    @naturallynorthwest9748 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Great video. Every time I've found matsutake, I have smelled them before I saw them. It is very subtle, but enough to get me wondering if they were close and start looking. There has also been times I smelled them, but wasn't able to locate them. As Toucan Sam would say, "Follow your nose!"

  • @timhaywood1100
    @timhaywood1100 Před 9 měsíci +4

    Yes, another great episode!

  • @graphguy
    @graphguy Před 9 měsíci +5

    Wonderful!

  • @BeautifulPeony_Love
    @BeautifulPeony_Love Před 9 měsíci +3

    Love those huge matsutake mushrooms. They are my favorite mushrooms.

  • @GuardianAngelWatcher
    @GuardianAngelWatcher Před 9 měsíci +5

    Super great haul Aaron! Really informative and helpful; I appreciate and thank you.

  • @G.A.gigger
    @G.A.gigger Před 9 měsíci +1

    Hi , thanks for the great video ..I pick Matsu in B.C. And have done so for well over 50 years ...prices this year were almost 30 for the ones and very good prices for the lower grades. I remember the most I ever got for buttons was 90 a lb. way back . I still get out and pick and love it.Thanks for showing your woods and the habitat in where you pick ..

  • @patinusa358
    @patinusa358 Před 9 měsíci +3

    Thank you for VDO ❤👍👍👍

  • @taylorwolf3415
    @taylorwolf3415 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Dang that queen at the beginning is wild. Road finds are the best!

  • @pamelasternin4349
    @pamelasternin4349 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Inspiring video! Thanks for keeping us stoked when we can't get out to forage cause life.

  • @th8298
    @th8298 Před 9 měsíci +1

    I wish we went together. Dang it. You have the eye for seeing it all. My eyesight is not the best these days. I guess I have been looking at the sun way too long.

  • @westcoast8562
    @westcoast8562 Před 9 měsíci +4

    YEA WHEN YOU FIND A BIG PATCH YOU WILL SMELL THEM. IN YEARS PAST I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE SMELLED THEM BUT THIS YEAR I SMELLED THEM FOR SURE. WAS ABOUT 30 MUSHROOMS TOTAL

  • @ttyk19
    @ttyk19 Před 9 měsíci +1

    amazing! epic! and jealous.

  • @ThayGiQuay
    @ThayGiQuay Před 9 měsíci +1

    My favourite mushroom

  • @foodinthecarpathianmountai9892

    Great video . The mushrooms look delicious.. Thanks for sharing and may God bless ! 🙏 ❤😊

  • @vasiliybukur4302
    @vasiliybukur4302 Před 8 měsíci

    Thank you Aaron. I already watched the video. Very helpful. I will pluck the matsutake mushrooms from now cu on.

  • @capieb7663
    @capieb7663 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Fabulous video homie

  • @sopheap4177
    @sopheap4177 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Love this video, Aaron!! What a great season we're having! 🍄❤️

  • @SecretCollage
    @SecretCollage Před 9 měsíci +1

    THANK YOU this is so fun and so insightful!

  • @jennifers6435
    @jennifers6435 Před 9 měsíci

    You must have an excellent sense of direction..happy picking from Port Ludlow

  • @whoe_whate8487
    @whoe_whate8487 Před měsícem

    I love Lake Cushman! I really want to go mushroom hunting there.

  • @hengehog838
    @hengehog838 Před 9 měsíci +2

    So many shrumps

  • @lisacassells3828
    @lisacassells3828 Před 9 měsíci +1

    What an amazing haul.

  • @TheSpikie22
    @TheSpikie22 Před 9 měsíci +1

    I like to go slow, just find them as i do, not looking for trees, wasting time and energy. Getting all kinds in my back yard, but then we don't even eat mushrooms yet. 6 year forager😂

  • @charliefeinstein943
    @charliefeinstein943 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Another great video Aaron! I love that area too. I found 12lbs of fresh goldens the other day. Challenging terrain but so satisfying. 🎉

  • @ReignForesthome
    @ReignForesthome Před 9 měsíci +1

    Sweet little spot you found😀

  • @bobbyGnOly
    @bobbyGnOly Před 9 měsíci

    thanks

  • @leskrug9266
    @leskrug9266 Před 9 měsíci +2

    I've been watching you for a while. This is just a suggestion. I think he should have a harvest and cook out in the mushroom. Wonderland? Take some of the extra stuff that you want for mushrooms. Maybe take a steak or hamburgers or something like that. But yeah have a have a harvest and cook episode

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci +1

      I have probably a dozen videos where I cook at the end, it's just extremely labor-intensive and time-consuming to do it. Maybe if I can quit my day job sometime and focus on the channel I'll do more cooking videos. I would love to.

    • @leskrug9266
      @leskrug9266 Před 9 měsíci

      @@mushroomwonderland1 I'll have to go back and see if I can find those videos where you were cooking them

  • @cma3436
    @cma3436 Před 9 měsíci +5

    Hey Aaron, much love from Longview Washington. Question for you. Do you need a permit or a license hunt mushrooms were you hunt them? I'm still learning. Thank you and cheers!

    • @lilolmecj
      @lilolmecj Před 9 měsíci +1

      You don’t need a permit, but there are daily limits. I don’t know how much though. I am speaking of for private use, for commercial picking there might be a permit required.

    • @cma3436
      @cma3436 Před 9 měsíci +1

      @@lilolmecj Great thanks for the feedback.

    • @PHill
      @PHill Před 9 měsíci +2

      As far as I know the petsonal limit in the various districts in Olumpic National FOREST (not the National PARK) is 3 gallons.

  • @kimprocarione5473
    @kimprocarione5473 Před 9 měsíci

    WOW!!!!!

  • @mazzarothwatch
    @mazzarothwatch Před 9 měsíci +3

    how late do u find those up there? I have family in Sequim so i was thinking of coming up to hunt if not too late. I find em in November in southern Oregon but they are hard to find and nothing like what you are scoring...love your channel bro

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci

      Getting close to the end of the season! This will probably be the last good weekend, except in certain microclimates.

    • @slatec02
      @slatec02 Před 9 měsíci

      I live in Sequim they are really good mushroom spots here

  • @teresamycelia
    @teresamycelia Před 9 měsíci +2

    🍄🍄

  • @dhiskeywick1776
    @dhiskeywick1776 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Thanks for this content, Aaron. I like hiking in the woods in the PNW, but I don't know anything about mushrooms so I don't touch them.

  • @emmalouie1663
    @emmalouie1663 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Ah, I can see the Olympics from where I am at though it's quite far away. The area where I'm at is full of mostly cedars so I won't be finding anything like that and in fact I had no idea we had those Japanese mushrooms in WA state. Very very neat to watch this. I love woodland settings. I do smell mushrooms sometimes before I see them. Depends on a person's sense of smell and the type of mushroom but when the forest is a clean area it doesn't have all the pollution smells and you can get frangrance of mushrooms in the air. There is some kind down the road that smells like fish lol. No idea what sort it is I just leave it there.

  • @stefanbroschart1670
    @stefanbroschart1670 Před 9 měsíci +1

    go AAron.. always nice..

  • @PHill
    @PHill Před 9 měsíci +1

    Hmm, maybe I should come and visit again .... 😂😅

  • @stevenmoore9233
    @stevenmoore9233 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Hey Aaron @mushroom wonderland what day did you shoot this video? I see that you posted it one day ago?
    Thank you

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci

      This was filmed a week and a half ago.

    • @stevenmoore9233
      @stevenmoore9233 Před 9 měsíci

      Thanks Aaron appreciate the reply..
      I live in Oregon and wonder if Matsutake's are popping up here too!!

  • @EYES2seeEARS2hear78
    @EYES2seeEARS2hear78 Před 9 měsíci

    Lived all my 45yrs in PNW- is Marlaina still the prez? I love finding mushrooms- however it seems these past couple years in the lowlands- Kitsap Memorial, etc the mushrooms have gone dormant, disappeared. Thanks again for inspiring me to head into the hills. If I could walk without pain…Would make it that much more enjoyable.Happy hunting

  • @PNWgirl921
    @PNWgirl921 Před 9 měsíci +1

    In my backyard again eh?😂 We didn’t find any headed the other direction at the “T” last weekend😢.

  • @billwoods2459
    @billwoods2459 Před 4 měsíci

    Total newbie here. Having only picked chanterelles and morels, found this a very useful video. Thanks. Question: I remember being taught to slice off the base of the mushroom with a knife to minimize the disturbance of the mycelium. You didn't use a knife and mentioned getting more value from taking the whole volva. So, was my instruction wrong? This won't deplete the patch over time?

  • @capieb7663
    @capieb7663 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Queen bolete yahooo

  • @westcoast8562
    @westcoast8562 Před 9 měsíci +1

    ARE THEY STILL BUYING PINES IN WASHINGTON?

  • @jasonkohler-zz7mw
    @jasonkohler-zz7mw Před 9 měsíci +1

    My friend who is a commercial buyer took me picking this season on his secret grounds he has picked for 35 years. (Hes the 100#-200# per day guy).
    He straight up LAUGHED at me for picking perfect giant #3's...
    By the end of the day i understood why.
    Lol

  • @JakeSmith-ps4vr
    @JakeSmith-ps4vr Před 9 měsíci +1

    15 min 17seconds, is that an agaricon on that dead standing tree behind you? It looks huge! Love the videos man!!

  • @emmalouie1663
    @emmalouie1663 Před 9 měsíci +1

    It's also good for people to leave the mycelium and not take it away lol or else eventually you will have NO MORE...

  • @jeffb4612
    @jeffb4612 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Picking world class mushrooms and you have a gas station sandwich. Is there dangerous lookalikes.

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci +1

      Ha! Yup. I don't mind trash food lol. There is a dangerous look-alike, Amanita smithiana, a large white tissue covered mushroom with a large bulbous base can be deadly and occurs in similar habitat but the lack of distinct smell, the tannish brown coloring on the stem, and the bulbous face rather than the matsutakes tapered base are pretty obvious giveaways.

  • @vasiliybukur4302
    @vasiliybukur4302 Před 8 měsíci

    Thank you for the wonderful and informative videos Aaron. I noticed you don’t cut the mushrooms at the roots. Could you please explain why? I was thought that if you leave the roots they’ll come back next year. Thank you!

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Thank you for watching, and it doesn't make a difference to cut or pluck. I really urge you to go into the videos on my channel and look up "to cut or pluck," a total exposé on the topic, it explains it all so clearly by all of the best experts.

  • @jebbkinney8516
    @jebbkinney8516 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Dude, the way you talk sometimes reminds me of the guy from neature walk...if you haven't heard or seen it look it up. Hilarious

  • @tylersathern1076
    @tylersathern1076 Před 9 měsíci +1

    What is the best method of preserving the extra mushrooms when you find so many at a time? (Dehydrate them maybe??)

  • @hannahhe7230
    @hannahhe7230 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Great! Was it in Dec?

  • @nickwhite2569
    @nickwhite2569 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Hey Aaron, what a season for Matsutake!! Question: I remember in a previous video you mentioned what raingear you use. I've tried to go back and find what video it was, but I've been unsuccessful. Could you link what raingear you use?? Thanks!

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci

      I have always liked Helly Hanson, But I don't have a sponsorship deal with them yet so I'm not going to advertise for them quite yet haha!

  • @DoubleADay
    @DoubleADay Před 9 měsíci +1

    Was this recently or older footage? I'm asking because I would like to go out but I'm tired of disappointment

  • @SketchybrainD
    @SketchybrainD Před 9 měsíci +1

    $7.50 a lb in October for clean number ones.

  • @mattschindler1171
    @mattschindler1171 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Can you find those in the sake areas that you find chantrels?

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci +1

      Yes! They do prefer similar habitats. I rarely return from Matsi picking without some Chants making home in the basket also.🍄

    • @mattschindler1171
      @mattschindler1171 Před 9 měsíci +1

      @@mushroomwonderland1 awesome thank you.

  • @stockbulll
    @stockbulll Před 9 měsíci +2

    Do matsutake mushrooms grow after a frost?

    • @westcoast8562
      @westcoast8562 Před 9 měsíci +3

      They will tolerate light frost s and often the frost will make them start to pop. They need cold .

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci +2

      Yes, radiation frost is fine. A deep freeze will usually end them though.

  • @westcoast8562
    @westcoast8562 Před 9 měsíci +1

    WHAT I THINK IS THERE ARE SEVERAL SPECIES OF CHANTRELLE S THAT HAVE YET TO BE DEFINED. I SEE DIFFERENT MAIN CHARACTERISTICS DEPENDING WHICH PATCH IM PICKING. FROM DIFFERENT COLORS TO DIFFERENT STEM SHAPES WHERE THEY GO INTO THE SOIL...TO DIFFERENT SIZES. I THINK MYCOLOGISTS SHOULD TAKER A CLOSER LOOK. HERE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND ID SAY THERE ARE 4 DIFFERENT TYPES AT LEAST. OPEN TO YOUR THOUGHTS ?!

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci +3

      Yes, if they have golden gills and stem, Cantharellus formosus, If gold with white gills= C. californicus, Vibrant orange gills= C. roseocanus, stalky and pale yellow= C. cascadensis, white/cream colored= C. subalbidus 🍄

    • @PHill
      @PHill Před 9 měsíci +1

      There are 5 or 6 alrrady established Chanterelle species. I have to say, I too think there might be others. I was suspecting another "Golden Chanterelle" species just this year. Yes it was golden, but it seemed to be two toned!

    • @westcoast8562
      @westcoast8562 Před 9 měsíci +1

      @@PHill so much to be discovered .

  • @sashagoddard7737
    @sashagoddard7737 Před 9 měsíci

    I don't understand why you are only collecting the buttons. Aren't they all as delicious? Do you sell them to Chef's?

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci

      Oh, no i collect them all. The big ones are still good, and yes I dehydrate them. But restaurants and in Japan they want them still closed buttons, supposedly they have the most aroma then.

  • @dirtcopdualsport
    @dirtcopdualsport Před 9 měsíci

    Wow can you find these in the Idaho panhandle?

  • @phrosted
    @phrosted Před 9 měsíci

    What brand are your overalls? I’ve been looking for a pair for the bush now that it’s wet walking through the bush!

  • @logeyful
    @logeyful Před 9 měsíci

    How late will they be growing?

  • @spongebobsqueeze
    @spongebobsqueeze Před 9 měsíci +1

    Could you do a video and show us how you dehydrate these mushrooms and I was wondering if you can sell the dehydrate matsutake later in the year.

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci

      People do buy them dried. When I get them home I clean all the dirt off, I slice them about a quarter inch thick and then lay them out on the dehydrator. About 2 days with heat and their potato chip crisp and then I pulled them off rotate fresh ones on to the dehydrator. And then put them in a sealed bag with a desiccant packet. Yes people do sell and buy dried Matsutake, If you can find the market.

    • @spongebobsqueeze
      @spongebobsqueeze Před 9 měsíci +1

      @@mushroomwonderland1 Thank you for the information about drying them. The best mushroom soup I have ever had was in the spring and made with dehydrated matsutake as a base. I tried to make it with fresh as a base and it just was not the same. The dehydrated had a richer flavor.

  • @emmalouie1663
    @emmalouie1663 Před 9 měsíci +1

    "The majority of harvesting done in North America on a commercial level is for Asian markets."

  • @lifengjin9510
    @lifengjin9510 Před 9 měsíci

    Is this tricholoma roseocanus?😊

  • @ricksartor9573
    @ricksartor9573 Před 9 měsíci

    Would you be willing to share your location

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci

      Just as much as i did in the video, which really helps narrow it down, not only the exact region but habitat throughout the video. Of course I am not going to post the exact coordinates for thousands to see and potentially go stomp the area. A mushroom picker never makes his prize patch public. A big part of the thrill is finding your own patch.

    • @ricksartor9573
      @ricksartor9573 Před 9 měsíci

      @Crystal-yc2vk I understand that. I’m new to mushrooming. I know you don’t know me, I am respectful to others areas. And also to our forest. Maybe sometime you maybe willing to teach me. I find all kinds of mushrooms. I take pictures so I can learn, I post the pictures but I don’t feel comfortable with some of what others are sharing because the opinions are matching up. I’m a hands on type person. My name is Rick. Thank you for taking your time to respond back to me. I was so excited for you, in your find of the matsutakies , & lobsters that was awesome my first I went I find a lobster and I fill 5 5 gallon buckets in 30 minutes. But I could find a buyer so I dried them out. Did I do the right thing in doing so

  • @emmalouie1663
    @emmalouie1663 Před 9 měsíci

    I get the feeling people will pick this until they can't find it anywhere and export it all to the highest market maybe China.

    • @PHill
      @PHill Před 9 měsíci

      They grow back....
      I don't think Cina is a big market ... yet.

    • @changrenyong7616
      @changrenyong7616 Před 9 měsíci

      China is the largest Matsutake exporting country.

  • @emmalouie1663
    @emmalouie1663 Před 9 měsíci +1

    "In three generations (50 years), Tricholoma matsutake populations have declined at a rate of 30% worldwide."

  • @tunneloflight
    @tunneloflight Před 9 měsíci

    For me there is little in the world more detestable than matsutake. I cooked up one, took one taste and could not spit it out fast enough. Horrible. I threw the rest in the trash. The smell got me. And I very soon had to take it outside the house into the garbage double bagged. That wasn't even enough. Just walking near the garbage can was horrible. So I moved it out by the road. That was still to close to be honest.
    Be carful about the high regard people have for this mushroom. If you are like me - stay away. Stay far far far away.
    Ditto for sea urchin. Oh god - how horrible!
    Perhaps there are some chemicals these have in common?! If you detest sea urchin, take special caution about matsutake.
    Thank you for identifying where they occur. I live here. I will carefully avoid these areas. Ick, ack. Gack. Ugh. Detestable.

  • @Fragrantbeard
    @Fragrantbeard Před 9 měsíci +1

    Can you give us a newbies a sense of how to consider elevation this time of year in Western Wa? I don't know how high (below snow level) is reasonable - but that's often our better forest lands. I've got a few years of chanterelles under my belt and now I want to expand my knowledge - thank you SO much for what you're doing here. I'm sure it is a lot of work.

    • @mushroomwonderland1
      @mushroomwonderland1  Před 9 měsíci +1

      They seem to like cooler temps in the mountains, the coastal ones kinda do their own thing. Plenty of rain is necessary, so maybe it's less about temp and more about rainfall amounts. They typically start at higher elevations and work their way down to sea level.

    • @PHill
      @PHill Před 9 měsíci

      I find them above the Cedar and Doug Fir, but not so far up to onky the alpine trees. Let's call it tge transition where tgere are firs and even spruce, but not where there are alpine meadows.