Irkutsk Oblast: Mushroom-hunting on Olkhon

Mushrooms are beyond abundant in Siberia (endless taiga forest after all). While not intentionally on a mushroom-picking trip just a brief stop for 10 minutes yielded several kg of various edible mushrooms which locals happily took later. One of the most widespread mushrooms here is “ryzhik” or “saffron milk cap” or “red pine mushroom” – a choice edible mushroom with some of the best taste qualities (coincidentally is Latin name is Lactarious Deliciosus). It can be eaten raw which is exactly what I did.