For any person living in the territory of the former USSR, eating mushrooms is normal. Even in close Europe and related Scandinavia, this food is not practiced on a serious scale.
Why do mushrooms from the forest eat in Russia and the countries of the former USSR?
The main task of consuming any product is the need to replenish calories. The northern latitudes of Russia have always been characterized by a shortage of food, especially during wars, revolutions, and crop failure. The abundance of forests itself gives mushrooms in huge numbers: no need to plant a garden, watering and weeding. You just need to take a knife, a basket and go into the forest. Nature has decreed that there is plenty of this good, and dozens of edible varieties are growing. If you make an excursion into the history of 300 years ago, then there were no potatoes or tomatoes in the national diet. So mushrooms made up a significant part of the consumer basket.
Interesting fact: Natural scientists are still far from the day when all types and varieties of mushrooms will be described, classified. Now this figure is in the range of 100,000. But in reality there are about 20 times more varieties!
A particular advantage is that they can be dried and harvested for future use. And without modern conservation technologies. They are simply salted, pickled, dried. Lingering posts added fuel to the fire. So a working person could adequately replenish the calorie stock with mushroom components.They can be fried, baked, cooked. This is a great snack, an ingredient in many dishes - borscht, soups, pastries. Mushrooms come with vegetables, porridge, fish, berries, pancakes. Nowadays, many simple old peasant notions are served in expensive restaurants as a specialty.
The collection process also attracts you - you have to go to the forest, have some skill and intuition. In the absence of modern entertainment, TV and books, the search for butter and birch trees is a great way to pass the time.
What mushrooms are eaten in other countries?
It is a big mistake to think that champignons were brought to us from France. These mushrooms grew in Russia in all places. They were actively used in everyday diet. Although the attitude was to him, as to a second-rate product. In honor there was always something that grew in the forest, and not near the house. The popularization of mushrooms in our country and in Europe began about 200 years ago. And now decent money is being earned by growing champignons in a greenhouse.
Interesting fact: mushrooms appeared on Earth long before the dinosaurs, are considered very tenacious and strong. They are able to move and grow at the speed of bamboo. Mushrooms carry healing qualities, but at the same time they are predators. And when studying the chromosome set, scientists found that mushrooms are male and female.
A billion people force the Chinese to grow and consume different types of mushrooms. This is an integral part of many dishes. Dozens of names - shimeji, oyster mushroom, shiitake, enoki. Products are actively exported, including Russia.Champignons in the total mass do not exceed 10% of the volume of consumption. Their main share is produced on home farms by small entrepreneurs.
They love mushrooms in the States. The official market is approximately $ 1.1 billion. A country where delicious food is part of the meaning of life is not able to exist without this treat. But not more than ten items are in use, among which are porcini mushroom, enoki, and maytake. In Germany, the most popular is champignon. Supporters of separate nutrition do not strive for their diversity. Even inveterate mushroom pickers specialize in a particular variety.
The closer the state is to Russia, the more actively its inhabitants pick mushrooms. Camping in the forest is a common thing in Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia. In Sweden and Poland, the government itself is stimulating this fishing. But in the Netherlands it is forbidden by law to collect and bring anything from the forest. In Italy and France a permit is required for picking mushrooms.
A mushroom is not a plant. This is a special biological kingdom, which combines the elements of plants and animals. It can be compared to a vacuum cleaner that absorbs all the nutrients from the soil, trees and grass. It is very dangerous to eat what grows near roads, industrial enterprises, landfills. Exactly for this reason, many competent and scrupulous foreigners avoid the use of mushrooms in their diet.
It is dangerous to acquire this type of goodies in natural markets, from casual individuals. From a medical point of view, the fungus is useful if it has grown in a normal environment.Although the body does not require the use of this product for good nutrition. In cooking, it is not so much calorie value that is valued as taste and sophistication. It is an excellent raw material for seasonings and spices.
Interesting fact: mushrooms are firmly entrenched in world culture and life. In ancient times, the product had alternative names - partying, lambs, bruises, spruces. They are often mentioned in fairy tales and legends; many names of cities and streets are associated with them.
With proper preparation and a natural, safe origin, mushrooms are healthy and tasty. But do not take risks if you are not an expert on this type of goodies. Risk can be expensive. And the reason for the love of Russians for mushrooms is clear and obvious: this is a dish that has become national due to natural, cultural and historical factors. And never miss the opportunity to go to the forest for the amazing and pleasant for the lungs collection process.
