Golden Chanterelles

Cantharellus cibarius

It’s time to get out in our local forests and maybe find a “pot of gold”: dozens of big, fresh chanterelles crowded into a small patch, yours for the taking. There is not much more to say about this, except “wow, they are mighty fine brushed with olive oil and garlic, and then grilled whole over hot coals!”

There are many varieties of chanterelles, but this golden chanterelle is fairly common in our area. As you can see from the pictures, they grow on the ground– not on wood. Golden Chanterelles are uniformly orange-yellow and shaped like a funnel. The edges of the cap are usually wavy and the underside is lined with ridges that run most of the way down the stipe. There are a few more characteristics that can distinguish it form other non-edible mushrooms, so you should always consult an expert if you hope to eat any wild mushrooms that you find in the woods on your own.

Chanterelles are mycorrhizal with tree roots and can be found growing in summer and fall on the east coast.

You can click on any photo below to open a larger viewer.