If someone told you they were going on mushroom tours, you’d probably do a double take. But I’m talking about the kind you cook with, and now you can learn about these delicacies from the ground up.
Hawaii is known for coffee and cacao plantations…but mushrooms?
In Hilo, the farmers at Hamakua Mushrooms use ancient Japanese techniques to cultivate gourmet mushrooms. Not only can you tour the farm, but you can learn how to grow your own.
The Telluride Mushroom Festival in Colorado has taken place for over 30 years. You can actually go foraging for mushrooms, cook a meal with them, and learn how to grow different varieties.
Believe it or not, there is a mushroom capital of America: it’s in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, where Quakers first started the industry. Your best bet to try them all is at the farmers market, and there’s also a museum called the Mushroom Cap.
November is “mushroom madness” in Mendocino, California, where more than 500 types of edible mushrooms grow every winter. These guys celebrate with everything from foraging excursions to wine-paired mushroom dinners.
What’s next…truffle hunting? Stay tuned!
For more information, visit the Culinary Travel Archives.
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