Cremini, Porcini, (Porto)Bellini

1. Cremini

2. Morel

3. Oyster

4. Porcini

5. Shiitake

6. Lion's Mane

7. Enoki

8. Portobello

9. Portobellini

To the regular man on the street this might sound like opera singers or Italian surnames, but to the mushroom lover they sound all too familiar. These are of course the names of three of the (very) many types of mushrooms.

As mentioned yesterday, there are more than 10 000 different types of mushrooms so the ones that I’ll discuss today won’t even scratch the surface. They do however clearly illustrate how different the variety can be.

The ones used most commonly around the world, are the cremini, white button and portobello mushrooms. The interesting thing about these three is that they are actually one and the same. The only difference is the age. The portobello mushroom would be the grandfather (most mature), the cremini the son and the white button the grandson (youngest and freshest).

The Morel mushroom, although suspiciously looking, is also an edible mushroom but is hard to cultivate on a large scale. Because of their unique appearance, they can be easily identified. Even though they aren’t easy to find in a store, they can be grown successfully at home. They have an intense meaty and nutty flavour.

Oyster mushrooms can easily be identified by looking at their striking appearance. They have a very spongy and chewy texture. The best way to prepare them is to roast them in the oven. This mushroom is native to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. They specifically have anti-inflammatory properties and are high in antioxidants. They also have a lowering effect on blood cholesterol levels.

Porcini mushrooms are widely use in the culinary world. They have an intense aroma and a deep nutty flavour. Their health properties include improving cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Shiitake mushrooms are best known for their anticarcinogenic (cancer fighting) and antimicrobial (fighting dangerous micro-organisms) qualities. They have been shown to improve immunity and have anti-inflammatory properties. Besides eating them raw, they are also available in the dried form. This concentrates the flavour and nutritional value.

The Lion’s Mane mushroom looks exactly like the name suggests. Although strange looking, this mushroom has some excellent health properties including protective effects on the heart and stomach as well as inhibiting cancer progression. They are mostly found among the Asian communities, but can also be found more easily in extract, supplements or in the dried form.

The Enoki mushroom is again one of the most unique looking varieties. They have a noodle-like appearance which explains why they are sometimes used as low carb noodles in soups or stir fries.

Resource: Joseph, M. 2017. 9 Delicious Types of Edible Mushrooms. www. nutritionadvance.com. 3 June 2017.