I’ve always been a forager at heart, and living in Latvia—a country rich in sprawling forests—is a true blessing. Foraging is more than a hobby; it’s a way of life passed down through my family. My mom and grandmother taught me everything I know about the forest, guiding me on what to pick and what to leave behind.
Latvia’s forests are a treasure trove of wild mushrooms. Every season, I eagerly venture into the woods, basket, and knife in hand, searching for my favorites—chanterelles, russulas, and boletus. These mushrooms are easy to identify and safe to eat right away, making them a reliable choice. The thrill of discovering a patch of golden chanterelles or a sturdy boletus never gets old.
I absolutely love russula mushrooms! They are a common treasure in our forests and are perfect for making delicious mushroom cutlets. So incredibly tasty! I think I need to share the recipe.
Foraging is more than just gathering food—especially when store shelves are always stocked. It’s about connecting with the land and honoring cherished family traditions. In the serene embrace of the forest, I find a profound sense of belonging and tranquility that’s hard to find elsewhere.
To my fellow foragers: what are your favorite mushrooms to pick? And if you haven’t tried foraging yet, what’s stopping you? The forest is full of wonders waiting to be discovered.
Happy foraging!
Ilze
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a day in the life of a latvian mom 
A good example of your culture. I think you would find several aspects of this post interesting and maybe a part response to your Friends questionnaire: https://derrickjknight.com/2013/10/07/anansi/
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Your story makes me wonder how much more we have in common with others than we realize….
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Those are beautiful! I love cooking with mushrooms. I don’t know enough to avoid the poisonous ones in the wild, though.
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Well, that is a tradition we have… and give the information to our kids. Never pick the mushroom you don’t know. You need to have a guided tour that shows you the right mushrooms 🙂
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Good advice!
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For us, foraging runs deep. We only pick the mushrooms our mom or grandmother taught us were safe. If someone claims that “Chicken of the Woods” is edible, I want to see them pick it, cook it, and eat it first—then I’ll give it a try! 😊
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Family wisdom!
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Well, I’m the one picking less than previous generations, simply because no need to salt the mushrooms for the winter, we can freeze or dehydrate, etc. I’ll share the recipe for fired Russula today 🙂
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I was just drawing and painting mushrooms. The Amanita Muscaria. Poisonous I believe and while I was drawing and painting them I was thinking, “I’d never know which mushroom to trust if I were to see them in the forest and want to eat or cook with any. Best stick to the store bought ones, Deborah!” LOL! So when I forage in the forest or woods I look for nuts, acorns, broken glass that’s aged, buttons, coins- that sort of thing. 😊
I think that’s a valuable skill you have in knowing which ones are safe and which to leave behind.
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Thank you for your comment, Deborah! 😊 I also enjoy picking up what others have left behind, especially things like plastic bottles and trash, to help keep the forest clean. My foraging skills aren’t quite as sharp as my mom’s or grandmother’s, though. They learned to gather everything edible, even the ones that required days of soaking and boiling—skills honed back in the Soviet Union, when stores didn’t have the abundance we see today. As for me, I stick to the mushrooms that are safe to cook and eat right away! Like Russula, Chanterelle, different kind of Boletus…
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I love mushrooms too. You are so lucky to have such abundance and variety available to you.
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Thank you, Peggy. Our neighbor had a friend over from Australia about 7 years ago and I was guiding him through the forest… that year there wasn’t much mushrooms but still I was hearing a lot of joyful sounds.
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