Chanterelle is the common name of several species of fungi in the genera Cantharellus, Craterellus, Gomphus, and Polyozellus. They are orange, yellow or white, meaty and funnel-shaped. On the lower surface, most species have rounded, forked folds that run almost all the way down the stipe, which tapers down from the cap. Many species emit a fruity aroma and often have a mildly peppery taste.
Chanterelles are found in Eurasia, North America, and Africa, typically growing in forested areas. They initially gained popularity as an edible mushroom in the 18th century via their inclusion in French cuisine.
The name chanterelle originates from the Greekkantharos meaning "tankard" or "cup",[6][7] a reference to their general shape. Its German name, Pfifferling, refers to its peppery taste.
Cantharellus pallens
Description
The mushrooms are orange, yellow or white, meaty and funnel-shaped. On the lower surface, underneath the smooth cap, most species have rounded, forked folds[8] that run almost all the way down the stipe, which tapers down seamlessly from the cap. Many species emit a fruity aroma, reminiscent of apricots, and often have a mildly peppery taste.
Similar species
The false chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) has a similar appearance and can be confused with the chanterelle. Distinguishing factors are that false chanterelles have true gills, while chanterelles have folds. Additionally, color can help distinguish the two; the true chanterelle is uniform egg-yellow, while the false chanterelle is more orange in hue and graded, with darker center. The true chanterelle's folds are typically more wrinkled or rounded, and randomly forked. Though once thought to be hazardous, it is now known that the false chanterelle is edible but not especially tasty, and ingesting it may result in mild gastrointestinal distress.[9][10] The poisonous species in the genus Omphalotus (the jack-o'-lantern mushrooms) have been misidentified as chanterelles, but can usually be distinguished by their well-developed, unforked true gills.[a] Species of Omphalotus are not closely related to chanterelles. Other species in the closely related genera Cantharellus and Craterellus may appear similar to the golden chanterelle.[10]
Cantharellus pallens has sometimes been defined as a species in its own right,[12] but it is normally considered to be just a variety (C. cibarius var. pallens).[13] Unlike "true" C. cibarius it yellows and then reddens when touched and has a weaker smell. Eyssartier and Roux classify it as a separate species but say that 90% of the chanterelles sold in French markets are this, not C. cibarius.[12]
Similarly, the very pale C. alborufescens, which reddens easily and is found in Mediterranean areas, and northern of Iran[clarification needed] is sometimes distinguished as a separate variety or a separate species.[12][13][14]
Species
An incomplete listing of species that have been called chanterelles includes:
Chanterelles are common in Eurasia,[16] North America (including Central America) and Africa.[17] In the American Pacific Northwest, they can be found from July to November.[18] They tend to grow in clusters in mossy coniferous forests, but are also often found in mountainous birch forests and among grasses and low-growing herbs. In central Europe, the golden chanterelle is often found in beech forests among similar species and forms.[9] In the UK, they may be found from July through December.[19][20]
Though records of chanterelles being eaten date back to the 16th century, they first gained widespread recognition as a culinary delicacy with the spreading influence of French cuisine in the 18th century, when they began appearing in palace kitchens. For many years, they remained notable for being served at the tables of nobility. Nowadays, the usage of chanterelles in the kitchen is common throughout Europe and North America. In 1836, the Swedish mycologist Elias Fries considered the chanterelle "as one of the most important and best edible mushrooms."[9]
Chanterelles as a group are generally described as being rich in flavor, with a distinctive taste and aroma difficult to characterize. Some species have a fruity odor, others a more woody, earthy fragrance, and still others can even be considered spicy. The golden chanterelle is perhaps the most sought-after and flavorful chanterelle, and many chefs consider it on the same short list of gourmet fungi as truffles and morels. It therefore tends to command a high price in both restaurants and specialty stores.[10]
There are many ways to cook chanterelles. Most of the flavorful compounds in chanterelles are fat-soluble, making them good mushrooms to sauté in butter, oil or cream. They also contain smaller amounts of water- and alcohol-soluble flavorings, which lend the mushrooms well to recipes involving wine or other cooking alcohols. Many popular methods of cooking chanterelles include them in sautés, soufflés, cream sauces, and soups. They are not typically eaten raw, as their rich and complex flavor is best released when cooked.[9]
Chanterelles are also well-suited for drying, and tend to maintain their aroma and consistency quite well.[9] Some chefs profess that reconstituted chanterelles are actually superior in flavor to fresh ones, though they lose in texture whatever they gain in flavor by becoming more chewy after being preserved by drying.[10] Dried chanterelles can also be crushed into flour and used in seasoning in soups or sauces. Chanterelles are also suitable for freezing, though older frozen chanterelles can often develop a slightly bitter taste after thawing.[9]
One mushroom guide asserts, "Chanterelles are often dirty, and when washed they soak up water like a sponge...[try] dry-sauteeing...it concentrates their flavor while allowing you to wash them."[24]
In culture
In January 2024, the California golden chanterelle became the official mushroom of that state.[25]
^Dunham SM; O'Dell TE; Molina R (2003). "Analysis of nrDNA sequences and microsatellite allele frequencies reveals a cryptic chanterelle species Cantharellus cascadensis sp. nov. from the American Pacific Northwest". Mycological Research. 107 (10): 1163–77. doi:10.1017/s0953756203008475. PMID14635765.
^Rochon, Caroline; Paré, David; Pélardy, Nellia; Khasa, Damase P.; Fortin, J. André (2011). "Ecology and productivity of Cantharellus cibarius var. roseocanus in two eastern Canadian jack pine stands". Botany. 89 (10): 663–675. doi:10.1139/b11-058.
^Marrone, Teresa. (2020). Mushrooms of the upper midwest : a simple guide to common mushrooms. Adventure Publications, Inc. ISBN978-1-59193-960-3. OCLC1151845587.
^ abcdefPersson O. (1997). The Chanterelle Book. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. ISBN978-0-89815-947-9.
^ abcdFischer DH, Bessette A (1992). Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America: a Field-to-Kitchen Guide. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press. ISBN978-0-292-72080-0.
^Meuninck, Jim (2017). Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms. Falcon Guides. p. 4. ISBN978-1-4930-2669-2.
^ abcGillaume Eyssartier; Pierre Roux (2013). Le Guide des Champignons France et Europe (in French). Paris, France: Belin. pp. 586–590. ISBN978-2-7011-8289-6. Also available in English.
^ abThe entry for C. cibarius in Species Fungorum indicates that C. pallens and C. alborufescens are synonyms of C. cibarius, but have also been defined as varieties or separate species.
^Parad GA, Ghobad-Nejhad M, Tabari M, Yousefzadeh H, Esmaeilzadeh O, Tedersoo L, Buyck, B. 2018. Cantharellus alborufescens and C. ferruginascens (Cantharellaceae, Basidiomycota) new to Iran. Cryptogamie, Mycologie 39: 299-310.
^Thorn, R. Greg; Kim, Jee In; Lebeuf, Renée; Voitk, Andrus (2017). "The golden chanterelles of Newfoundland and Labrador: a new species, a new record for North America, and a lost species rediscovered". Botany. 95 (6): 547–560. doi:10.1139/cjb-2016-0213.
^Dar GH, Bhagat RC, Khan MA (2002). Biodiversity of the Kashmir Himalaya. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. ISBN978-81-261-1117-6.
^Boa ER (2004). Wild Edible Fungi: A Global Overview Of Their Use And Importance To People (Non-Wood Forest Products). Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN. ISBN978-92-5-105157-3.
^National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN978-0-309-48834-1. PMID30844154. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
