Fruits of the Forage

01/07/2021
Bilberries and Chanterelles
Bilberries and Chanterelles

After a recent trip down to my homeland, Devon i managed to set some time aside to have a good forage on Dartmoor. With it being the start of the chanterelle season i headed to my usual trusted spot to see what was around.



Fragrant Funnel (Clitocybe fragrans)
Fragrant Funnel (Clitocybe fragrans)

I managed to find not only some beautiful chanterelles but came across some fragrant funnel mushrooms. They are pure white in colour and have an incredble aniseed aroma when plucked from the ground. It gave me massive sweet shop nostalgia!  
The Fragrant funnel have many toxic lookalikes but be led by the nose
The Fragrant funnel have many toxic lookalikes but be led by the nose

However, with all the excitement to one side something quite extrodinary and super delicious did trump the fungus findings. It was bilberries! they were everywhere and perfectly ripe too. My girlfriend and i picked and ate handfuls at a time with purple stained hands and teeth but it was well worth it. As much as i would love to make a bilberry pie they never, ever seem to make it home.