National Mushroom Day

National Mushroom Day is celebrated on October 15th and is a time to celebrate the diversity of mushroom cultures, many of which are used for food. On this special occasion, why not treat yourself and your family to a delicious and hearty mushroom dish, side dish, or sauce?

History

Mushrooms have been used for rituals and medicine for centuries, but their use as food has only been present for about 30-50 thousand years. In Europe, mushrooms were used as an alternative food source after the end of the last ice age when food was scarce. Since people hadn’t eaten mushrooms before, their bodies hadn’t formed an enzyme apparatus for digesting this type of food, so it took some time for people to get accustomed to mushroom nutrition. Now, however, people have learned to cook with mushrooms and make a variety of dishes.

Fun facts

• Each mushroom consists of approximately 90% water, so when fried, they significantly reduce in size due to water evaporation.
• In 1928, the English microbiologist Alexander Fleming isolated penicillin from a yeast fungus, which has saved many lives.
• A growing mushroom is able to destroy wood, asphalt, marble due to the pressure inside of around 7 atmospheres.
• The oldest mushroom was found by scientists in 1859 – it is around 400 million years old, which makes mushrooms older than dinosaurs.
• Truffles are the most expensive type of mushrooms: one of them, weighing 3.3 pounds, was sold for 330 thousand dollars.

How to take part

On National Mushroom Day, why not visit a restaurant with family or friends to get a taste of a delicious mushroom delicacy, or try cooking something from mushrooms at home? For nature lovers, why not take a walk and pick mushrooms in places where it is allowed. However, be sure to check whether the mushrooms are edible before consuming them.

When is National Mushroom Day Celebrated in 2023?

National Mushroom Day is devoted to celebrating cheerfulness and fun. It happens annually on October the 15th.

Observations