Sopp is the Norwegian word for mushroom.  I have enjoyed eating various kinds of sopp for a while now, but it wasn´t until recently that I became interested in å jakte på sopp (going mushroom hunting), particularly morels.  I don´t believe morels grow in Norway, but they are very plentiful where I live.  I didn´t even know morels existed until last year.  Few restaurants cook with them and if they do, chances are I´m not eating there.

Morels are quite difficult to find and consequently valuable and pricy.  Last year on my way home from a town nearby, I encountered a father and daughter who were selling their catch on the side of the road.  I forget exactly how much it cost, but it was expensive produce.  They were so worth it!  It was at the end of the hunting season last year (this type of mushroom has a very short season), so I had to wait until this year to attempt the task.  I´ve been out twice in the last week and I can confirm that they are very difficult to find.  My hunting partner and I only found a handful.  We´re going up north this weekend and will have a try at it up there if the weather permits.

I got to thinking, Norway must also have delicious wild sopp.  There are many varieties of sopp that grow in Norway and å jakte på sopp is a very popular activity among Norwegians.  Of course one must be careful to avoid poisonous wild sopp.  You know who didn´t avoid these?  The Vikings.  They ate wild sopp with halucinogenic properties to give them additional courage for battle, not to mention a little foaming at the mouth action!  Wild sopp that have particularly strong colors were also used for dying wool years ago in Norse times.

If you want to be absolutely certain that you are safe to eat the wild sopp that you have found, there are certain parts of the woods that have designated inspectors who can put novices at ease.

See here for an interesting site in Norwegian where you can read about the most popular sopp å jakte på in Norway -the kantarell.  These are described to have a delicate and nutty flavor, sometimes fruity.  They are yellowish-orangish in color and the caps resemble trumpets.