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Upcoming Events | Meet the Instructors | Plant Archive | Mushroom Archive
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King bolete (Boletus edulis clade) is a group of mushrooms that are the most prized of the bolete mushrooms.
King boletes, also known as porcini or penny bun, can grow summer-fall, 1-2 days after a heavy rain. They form mycorrhizal associations with a variety of tree species including pine, spruce, oak, and beech.
King boletes can be identified by the white reticulation on their stem. They typically have tan colored caps. Young buttons will have white pores and a dense texture. As the mushroom ages, the pores yellow and the texture becomes softer. The mushroom needs to be harvested within a few days of fruiting as it often becomes bug-infested with age.
Young king boletes are highly sought after as they have the best flavor and texture of any bolete. This is one of the few mushrooms that is safe to consume raw, but cooking helps to bring out their nutty flavor. Drying the mushroom can also concentrate the flavor and preserve the mushroom.
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Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.
