Candy cap facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Candy caps |
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| Lactarius camphoratus | |
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Russulales
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| Family: |
Russulaceae
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| Genus: |
Lactarius
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| Species | |
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L. camphoratus |
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Candy cap mushrooms, also known as curry milkcaps, are a group of special edible mushrooms. They are famous for their amazing smell, which reminds people of maple syrup or curry! Instead of being eaten as a main dish, these mushrooms are mostly used to add a unique flavor to food, especially desserts. There are a few different types of candy caps, including Lactarius camphoratus, Lactarius fragilis, and Lactarius rubidus.
Contents
What are Candy Caps Like?
Candy caps are small to medium-sized mushrooms. Their caps are usually about 2 to 5 centimeters wide. They come in colors like burnt orange, reddish-brown, or orange-brown. When they are young, their caps are rounded. As they get older, they flatten out or become slightly sunken in the middle.
Inside the Mushroom
Underneath the cap, candy caps have gills that are attached to the stem. The whole mushroom is quite delicate and breaks easily. Like all mushrooms in the Lactarius group, candy caps release a milky liquid when they are broken. This liquid is whitish and watery, almost like whey or skim milk. It should taste mild or slightly sweet, never bitter.
The Special Smell
One of the most unique things about candy caps is their smell. People describe it in many ways, like maple syrup, camphor, curry, or even burnt sugar. This smell might be faint when the mushroom is fresh. But it becomes very strong and wonderful when the mushroom is dried.
How They Grow
Candy caps usually grow with trees. This means they form a special partnership with tree roots to help both the mushroom and the tree grow. This partnership is called ectomycorrhizal. Interestingly, one type, Lactarius rubidus, can also grow directly on decaying wood, which is a bit unusual for mushrooms that partner with trees.
How to Identify Candy Caps
| 'Candy cap' | |
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gills on hymenium |
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cap is convex or flat |
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hymenium is decurrent |
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stipe is bare |
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spore print is white to yellow |
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ecology is mycorrhizal |
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edibility: choice |
It's important to be careful when picking wild mushrooms. Some mushrooms that look similar to candy caps can be harmful or even deadly. For example, the deadly galerina looks a bit like candy caps and grows in the same places.
Key Differences
You can tell candy caps apart from other mushrooms by a few things:
- Brittle Stem: Candy caps have a stem that breaks easily. Most other small brown mushrooms have a more flexible stem. It's a good idea to gently break the stem with your fingers. If it's brittle, it might be a candy cap.
- Smell: Candy caps have their unique maple syrup or curry smell. Other Lactarius mushrooms might have different smells, or no strong smell at all. Remember, fresh candy caps might not smell very strong.
- Taste: The mushroom and its milky liquid should taste mild or a little sweet. They should never be bitter or sharp.
- Milky Liquid (Latex): The liquid from candy caps is thin and watery. It doesn't change color and doesn't stain the mushroom's flesh. Other Lactarius mushrooms might have white or colored liquid that can change color or stain the mushroom.
- Cap Appearance: Candy caps never have a patterned cap, and their cap is never sticky.
The Science Behind the Smell
For many years, scientists wondered what made candy caps smell so unique. In 2012, a scientist named William Wood finally found the answer! He discovered a special chemical called quabalactone III in the fresh mushrooms.
When the mushroom dries, this chemical changes into an even stronger smelling compound called sotolon. Sotolon is actually one of the main chemicals that gives maple syrup its smell, and it's also found in curry! This discovery was the result of 27 years of research.
Cooking with Candy Caps
Candy caps are not usually eaten as a main dish like other mushrooms. Because their smell and flavor are so strong, they are used more like a spice or seasoning. Think of how you use vanilla, saffron, or truffles – candy caps are used in a similar way.
They add a flavor and smell that reminds people of maple syrup or curry, but much more intense. What's really cool is that candy caps are often used in sweet foods and desserts, like cookies and ice cream. They can also be used in savory dishes that go well with sweet flavors, like pork.
How to Use Them
Candy caps are usually used when they are dried, because their special smell gets much stronger after drying. To use them, you can grind the dried mushrooms into a powder. Or, you can soak them in a hot liquid, like milk, to infuse the flavor. This is similar to how you might use whole vanilla beans.
Because of their unique taste, many chefs love to use candy caps. Lactarius rubidus is gathered and sold in California, while Lactarius camphoratus is found and sold in the United Kingdom and Yunnan Province, China.
Similar Mushrooms
There are other Lactarius mushrooms that have strong smells, but not all of them are closely related to candy caps.
For example, Lactarius rostratus is a rare mushroom found in northern Europe. It has an unpleasant smell, like ivy, which is very different from candy caps.
Some mushrooms, like Lactarius helvus (found in Europe) and Lactarius aquifluus (found in North America), also smell strongly, often like fenugreek. However, Lactarius helvus is known to cause stomach upset, so it's mildly toxic. The safety of Lactarius aquifluus is not fully known, but because it's related to Lactarius helvus, it's best to avoid it.
Some Lactarius species have a distinct coconut smell, like Lactarius glyciosmus and Lactarius cocosiolens. However, Lactarius glyciosmus can have a slightly bitter taste.
Images for kids
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Lactarius rubidus
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Lactarius rubidus spores magnified 1000 times
