“Is it edible?”

This question constantly runs through the forager’s mind.

As it turns out, the answer isn’t always a simple yes or no, particularly regarding wild mushrooms.

Some mushrooms are choice edibles.  Some mushrooms are toxic raw.  Some mushrooms are toxic no matter how thoroughly you cook them.

But there’s another category of mushrooms:  those that are no longer recommended for consumption even though field guides once listed them as edible.

Included in that latter category is a mushroom that grows in hemlock forests.  This lilac-colored mushroom causes unpleasant symptoms in many people who consume it.

But not everyone experiences unpleasant symptoms, and in some cultures, this mushroom is considered undeniably edible.

Why is this the case?  How can a mushroom poison some people and nourish others?

In this brand-new video, I share my thoughts.

Thanks for reading and watching!  Have you seen any neat mushrooms lately?

— Adam Haritan