Canada/Ontario: Killarney PP – Picking Black Trumpet Mushrooms

While the trails at the Killarney Provincial Park had a lot of mushroom along them, the total surprise was to find the thought after black trumpet mushrooms, and in insane abundance and quantity. The black trumpet mushroom, aka horn of plenty mushrooms aka orb of death mushroom aka black chanterelle is one of the most expensive and thought-after edible mushrooms in Europe. It has a distinctive, funnel-shaped appearance and a dark, almost black color, and thus cannot be confused with anything else. The mushroom is often found in deciduous forests, particularly around oak, beech, and other hardwoods. It is well-known in Western Europe, rather uncommon in Eastern Europe, and essentially unknown in North America – but apparently abundant here. We collected as much as we could – into hats, tshirts, hands! Black trumpet mushrooms are considered top category edibles (on par with porcini) and prized for their rich, earthy flavor, and exquisite taste. When dried, they retain their flavor well and can be rehydrated for use in cooking. And that’s what we are planning to do!