How to Identify Black Trumpet Mushrooms: A Guide to This Wild Edible

At Foraged, we believe that food is not just a means to an end. It's something special in itself and integral to a healthy life. That's why we're passionate about reconnecting people to their food and where it comes from. Today, most people in developing countries have an unhealthy relationship with their food. They regard it merely as a means to an end. We aspire to change that through education, so that collectively we begin to perceive our food as something special in itself, integral to a healthy life.

One way to connect with nature and nourish our bodies is through foraging. Foraging is the act of gathering wild food. It's a way to support family farms and a sustainable food system. Foraged is a specialty foods marketplace that offers hard-to-find ingredients directly from foragers, farmers, and artisans. Our mission is to empower small-scale food purveyors to grow sustainable businesses and provide easy access to natural foods. We encourage creativity in food offerings and provide recipes for unique food using foraged ingredients. 

One of the wild edibles that we offer is black trumpet mushrooms. These mushrooms are a delicacy and highly sought after by chefs and food enthusiasts. They have a rich, smoky flavor and a meaty texture that's perfect for soups, stews, and sauces. In this article, we'll teach you how to identify black trumpet mushrooms so that you can enjoy them in your cooking.

Black trumpet mushrooms, also known as Craterellus cornucopioides, are a type of wild mushroom that grows in North America, Europe, and Asia. They're usually found in deciduous forests, especially near oak, beech, and maple trees. They're black or dark brown in color and have a funnel-shaped cap that's deeply wrinkled. The cap is attached to a thin, hollow stem that's also black or dark brown. The underside of the cap is smooth and concave, and it has a wavy edge that's often curled under.

Black trumpet mushrooms are easy to identify once you know what to look for. Here are some tips to help you identify them:

1. Look for them in deciduous forests: Black trumpet mushrooms grow in deciduous forests, especially near oak, beech, and maple trees. They prefer moist, shady areas with rich soil.

2. Check the color: Black trumpet mushrooms are black or dark brown in color. They're not shiny or slimy, and they don't have any spots or scales. They're also not fuzzy or hairy.

3. Examine the cap: The cap of a black trumpet mushroom is funnel-shaped and deeply wrinkled. It's attached to a thin, hollow stem that's also black or dark brown. The cap is usually 1-3 inches wide and 2-6 inches tall.

4. Look at the underside of the cap: The underside of the cap is smooth and concave. It has a wavy edge that's often curled under. The gills are not visible because they're located on the outside of the cap.

5. Smell it: Black trumpet mushrooms have a rich, smoky aroma that's similar to a black truffle. If it smells musty or moldy, it's not a black trumpet mushroom.

6. Do a spore print: To do a spore print, place the cap of the mushroom on a piece of white paper or glass. Cover it with a bowl or jar and let it sit overnight. In the morning, remove the bowl or jar and lift the cap. You should see a pattern of spores on the paper or glass. Black trumpet mushrooms have brownish-black spores.

7. Consult a field guide: If you're not sure whether a mushroom is a black trumpet mushroom, consult a field guide or an expert. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to wild mushrooms.

Black trumpet mushrooms are a delicious and nutritious wild edible that's easy to identify once you know what to look for. They're a delicacy that's highly sought after by chefs and food enthusiasts. At Foraged, we offer black trumpet mushrooms and other hard-to-find ingredients directly from foragers, farmers, and artisans. We believe that foraging is a way to connect with nature and nourish our bodies. We encourage you to try black trumpet mushrooms in your cooking and to explore other wild edibles that nature has to offer.

Buy Black Trumpet Mushrooms

At Foraged, we’re on a mission to empower small-scale food purveyors to grow healthy, sustainable businesses while nourishing everyday people by providing easy access to unique foods.

By supporting Foraged vendors, you're helping to build a better, more sustainable food system for everyone.

Plus, we're committed to doing things the right way - our platform puts the power back in the knowledgeable hands of those who grow, harvest, and create foods most responsibly. 

And we don't just stop there, we also want to make sure you know how to cook and preserve the specialty foods you source from Foraged, which is why we provide educational resources and delicious recipes for you to try.