National Mushroom Day

National Mushroom Day is on October 15th and is a time to appreciate 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 developed the enzymes necessary for digesting this type of food, so it took some time for people to get accustomed to eating mushrooms. Nowadays, however, people have learned to cook with mushrooms and make a variety of dishes.

Interesting 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 can destroy wood, asphalt, and marble due to the pressure inside it of around 7 atmospheres.
• The oldest mushroom was found by scientists in 1859 – it is around 400 million years old, making mushrooms older than dinosaurs.
• Truffles are the most expensive type of mushroom: 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 with mushrooms at home? For nature lovers, why not take a walk and pick mushrooms in areas where it is allowed? However, be sure to check whether the mushrooms are edible before consuming them.

When is National Mushroom Day in 2025?

National Mushroom Day is observed on October 15th each year.

Observations