{"id":6636,"date":"2015-10-18T17:35:53","date_gmt":"2015-10-18T17:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=6636"},"modified":"2017-11-22T14:24:13","modified_gmt":"2017-11-22T14:24:13","slug":"mushroom-picking-in-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/mushroom-picking-in-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"Mushroom Picking In Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of my fondest childhood memories involves going mushroom picking in the Bavarian Forest. My Oma<\/strong> (grandma) used to lead the way, teaching my brother, sister and I which mushrooms were safe to eat, and which ones to avoid like the plague. Once we\u2019d collected as many mushrooms as we could, we would take them back to her house and she\u2019d make delicious mushroom soup with Kn\u00f6del<\/strong> (German dumplings) out of them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I was reminded of this recently when reading a German article about how some Fl\u00fcchtlinge <\/strong>(refugees) in Germany are falling ill by eating the wrong kinds of mushrooms; they mistake them for safe ones that they know from back home.<\/p>\n

I am no expert on mushrooms, but I remember my Oma telling me all those years ago to only pick the ones that looked like this:<\/p>\n

She said they have to turn blue underneath, like a bruise, when you press your finger into them. These are the only ones we ever took with us.<\/p>\n

However, I would be too nervous to do that now, without the expert help of my Oma or my Tante<\/strong> (aunty)! There are approx. 1,900 different types of mushrooms in the Bavarian Forest alone! Amongst the poisonous ones are Der Knollenbl\u00e4tterpilz, known as Amantia Phalloides or \u2018Death Cap\u2019 in English.<\/p>\n

Others include der Spitzgebuckelter Raukopf, der Gifth\u00e4ubling, der Rotling, and der Fliegenpilz. Some, like der Risspilz, are separated into hundreds of different types, of which some are edible and some aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n

*Linguistic fact! The German word Gift is what is known as a false friend to English; in English, the word gift<\/strong> is another word for a present (so something nice, in other words). But if someone gives you a \u2018gift\u2019 in German, they\u2019re not giving you something nice at all \u2013 the word Gift in German means poison<\/strong>!*<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With all the different types out there, mushroom picking with the intent of eating them can be a risky business if you\u2019re not some sort of mushroom expert, but that\u2019s no reason not to explore the Bavarian Forest and see how many different types of mushrooms you can find! Mushroom hunting and picking is a great part of rural German culture (also popular in neighbouring countries, including Poland), and is a wonderful way to get away from technology and other distractions, and reconnect with nature.<\/p>\n

*Important tip! If you do go exploring in the forest, be sure to cover your skin by wearing a hat, long-sleeved top, trousers, socks and closed shoes. Why? Because the Bavarian Forest is home to some blood-thirsty Zecken \u2013 ticks!*<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here are a few photos of mushrooms I found in the Bavarian Forest several years ago.<\/p>\n

If you want to try some mushrooms, but you’re too nervous to pick and cook them yourself, there is a solution! If you\u2019re staying in or near the Bavarian Forest, visit a local restaurant; they will most certainly have one or two dishes on their menu that use freshly picked, local mushrooms in their recipes.<\/p>\n

Does searching for mushrooms in the Bavarian Forest appeal to you? Did you do it as a child? If not, would you do it now?<\/p>\n

If you’d like to read more about the Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest national park) and what there is to see and do there, click here<\/a> for the official website (in both English and German).<\/p>\n

\"Schwammerl

Bayerischer Wald – Bavarian Forest. Own photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Vocabulary: Mushrooms & Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mushroom (Standard German) \u2013 der Pilz
\nMushroom (Bavarian) \u2013 der Schwammerl (or ‘Schwammal’)<\/p>\n

Bavarian Forest \u2013 der Bayerischer Wald<\/p>\n

Mushroom soup (Standard German)\u2013 die Pilzsuppe
\nMushroom soup (Bavarian) \u2013 die Schwammerlsuppe (or ‘die Schwammalsuppe’)<\/p>\n

Tick \u2013 die Zecke<\/p>\n

to collect \u2013 sammeln<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vocabulary: Symptoms of Mushroom Poisoning<\/strong><\/p>\n

Headache – die Kopfschmerzen
\nJoint pain – die Gelenkschmerzen
\nThirst – der Durst
\nDiarrhoea – der Durchfall
\nSweating – der Schwei\u00dfusbruch
\nConfusion – die Vewirrung
\nStomach ache – die Bauchschmerzen
\nAnxiety – das Angstgef\u00fchl
\nExtreme euphoria \u2013 die extreme Euphorie
\nSpeech disturbance – die Sprachst\u00f6rung<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

One of my fondest childhood memories involves going mushroom picking in the Bavarian Forest. My Oma (grandma) used to lead the way, teaching my brother, sister and I which mushrooms were safe to eat, and which ones to avoid like the plague. Once we\u2019d collected as many mushrooms as we could, we would take them…<\/p>\n

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