🍄 Mushroom Vocab
Mushroom names on a menu are shape, age, and kitchen job: the same species can be a button or a portobello. Some are supermarket staples. Some are seasonal and expensive.
🛒 The Agaricus Family
⚪ Button Mushroom
small mild mushroom, sold white or brown, eaten young
Example: The pizza used sliced white buttons.
🇫🇷 French: Champignon de Paris
🇩🇪 German: Champignon
🇮🇹 Italian: Champignon / prataiolo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo paris
💡 Nuance: Young Agaricus bisporus. Cremini is the same species, browner and a bit older. Portobello is the mature cap.
small mild mushroom, sold white or brown, eaten young
Example: The pizza used sliced white buttons.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Champiñón🇫🇷 French: Champignon de Paris
🇩🇪 German: Champignon
🇮🇹 Italian: Champignon / prataiolo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo paris
💡 Nuance: Young Agaricus bisporus. Cremini is the same species, browner and a bit older. Portobello is the mature cap.
🤎 Cremini Mushroom
young brown Agaricus - firmer and deeper than a white button
Example: Cremini held up in the pan better than white buttons.
🇫🇷 French: Cremini
🇩🇪 German: Cremini
🇮🇹 Italian: Cremini
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cremini
💡 Nuance: Also spelled crimini. Chestnut mushroom is another brown shop name for the same species.
young brown Agaricus - firmer and deeper than a white button
Example: Cremini held up in the pan better than white buttons.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Cremini / champiñón marrón🇫🇷 French: Cremini
🇩🇪 German: Cremini
🇮🇹 Italian: Cremini
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cremini
💡 Nuance: Also spelled crimini. Chestnut mushroom is another brown shop name for the same species.
🟤 Chestnut Mushroom
brown-capped Agaricus with a mild earthy flavor
Example: UK shops often say chestnut where US shops say cremini.
🇫🇷 French: Champignon châtaigne
🇩🇪 German: Kastanienchampignon
🇮🇹 Italian: Champignon castano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo castanho
💡 Nuance: Shop label, not a wild chestnut tree fungus. Same family as button and portobello.
brown-capped Agaricus with a mild earthy flavor
Example: UK shops often say chestnut where US shops say cremini.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Champiñón castaño🇫🇷 French: Champignon châtaigne
🇩🇪 German: Kastanienchampignon
🇮🇹 Italian: Champignon castano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo castanho
💡 Nuance: Shop label, not a wild chestnut tree fungus. Same family as button and portobello.
🍔 Portobello Mushroom
mature Agaricus - large cap, meaty texture
Example: The burger was a grilled portobello cap.
🇫🇷 French: Portobello
🇩🇪 German: Portobello
🇮🇹 Italian: Portobello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Portobello
💡 Nuance: Same species as the button, left to grow. Portobella and portabella are spelling variants.
mature Agaricus - large cap, meaty texture
Example: The burger was a grilled portobello cap.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Portobello🇫🇷 French: Portobello
🇩🇪 German: Portobello
🇮🇹 Italian: Portobello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Portobello
💡 Nuance: Same species as the button, left to grow. Portobella and portabella are spelling variants.
🥢 Cultivated Asian & Grocery
🍄 Shiitake
firm Asian mushroom with a rich savory flavor
Example: Dried shiitake made the broth taste meaty without meat.
🇫🇷 French: Shiitaké
🇩🇪 German: Shiitake
🇮🇹 Italian: Shiitake
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Shiitake
💡 Nuance: Stems are chewy. Many cooks use caps and save stems for stock.
firm Asian mushroom with a rich savory flavor
Example: Dried shiitake made the broth taste meaty without meat.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Shiitake🇫🇷 French: Shiitaké
🇩🇪 German: Shiitake
🇮🇹 Italian: Shiitake
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Shiitake
💡 Nuance: Stems are chewy. Many cooks use caps and save stems for stock.
🐚 Oyster Mushroom
fan-shaped mushroom - delicate, mild, savory
Example: Oyster mushrooms tore into strips and browned like pulled meat.
🇫🇷 French: Pleurote
🇩🇪 German: Austernpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Orecchione / pleurotus
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo ostra
💡 Nuance: Soft cap. King oyster is the thick-stemmed cousin.
fan-shaped mushroom - delicate, mild, savory
Example: Oyster mushrooms tore into strips and browned like pulled meat.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Seta de ostra🇫🇷 French: Pleurote
🇩🇪 German: Austernpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Orecchione / pleurotus
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo ostra
💡 Nuance: Soft cap. King oyster is the thick-stemmed cousin.
👑 King Oyster Mushroom
large oyster type with a thick, meaty stem
Example: Sliced king oyster stems seared like scallops.
🇫🇷 French: Pleurote du panicaut
🇩🇪 German: Kräuterseitling
🇮🇹 Italian: Cardoncello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo ostra-rei
💡 Nuance: The stem is the prize. Regular oyster is mostly cap.
large oyster type with a thick, meaty stem
Example: Sliced king oyster stems seared like scallops.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Seta ostra rey🇫🇷 French: Pleurote du panicaut
🇩🇪 German: Kräuterseitling
🇮🇹 Italian: Cardoncello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo ostra-rei
💡 Nuance: The stem is the prize. Regular oyster is mostly cap.
🦁 Lion's Mane
white shaggy mushroom - delicate, a little like shellfish when cooked
Example: Lion's mane shredded and fried in butter.
🇫🇷 French: Crinière de lion
🇩🇪 German: Löwenmähne
🇮🇹 Italian: Criniera di leone
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Juba de leão
💡 Nuance: Looks like a pom-pom, not a cap-and-stem. Cooks for crab-cake texture, not for a stir-fry sliver.
white shaggy mushroom - delicate, a little like shellfish when cooked
Example: Lion's mane shredded and fried in butter.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Melena de león🇫🇷 French: Crinière de lion
🇩🇪 German: Löwenmähne
🇮🇹 Italian: Criniera di leone
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Juba de leão
💡 Nuance: Looks like a pom-pom, not a cap-and-stem. Cooks for crab-cake texture, not for a stir-fry sliver.
🐔 Maitake
clustered ruffled fronds - also called hen of the woods
Example: A whole maitake roasted like a small hen.
🇫🇷 French: Maitake
🇩🇪 German: Maitake / Klapperschwamm
🇮🇹 Italian: Maitake
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Maitake
💡 Nuance: Hen of the woods is the English nickname. Chicken of the woods is a different, bright shelf mushroom.
clustered ruffled fronds - also called hen of the woods
Example: A whole maitake roasted like a small hen.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Maitake🇫🇷 French: Maitake
🇩🇪 German: Maitake / Klapperschwamm
🇮🇹 Italian: Maitake
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Maitake
💡 Nuance: Hen of the woods is the English nickname. Chicken of the woods is a different, bright shelf mushroom.
🤍 Enoki
long thin white stems and tiny caps
Example: Enoki went into the hot pot at the last minute so they stayed crisp.
🇫🇷 French: Enoki
🇩🇪 German: Enoki
🇮🇹 Italian: Enoki
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Enoki
💡 Nuance: Cultivated enoki are pale and needle-thin. Wild velvet shank is a related winter mushroom with a darker stem.
long thin white stems and tiny caps
Example: Enoki went into the hot pot at the last minute so they stayed crisp.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Enoki🇫🇷 French: Enoki
🇩🇪 German: Enoki
🇮🇹 Italian: Enoki
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Enoki
💡 Nuance: Cultivated enoki are pale and needle-thin. Wild velvet shank is a related winter mushroom with a darker stem.
🌾 Beech Mushroom
small clustered mushrooms - firm, a little nutty
Example: Beech mushrooms stayed crunchy in the stir-fry.
🇫🇷 French: Shimeji
🇩🇪 German: Buchenpilz / Shimeji
🇮🇹 Italian: Shimeji
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Shimeji
💡 Nuance: Often sold as shimeji. White and brown clusters. Pioppino is a similar slender brown cap with more crunch.
small clustered mushrooms - firm, a little nutty
Example: Beech mushrooms stayed crunchy in the stir-fry.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Seta haya / shimeji🇫🇷 French: Shimeji
🇩🇪 German: Buchenpilz / Shimeji
🇮🇹 Italian: Shimeji
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Shimeji
💡 Nuance: Often sold as shimeji. White and brown clusters. Pioppino is a similar slender brown cap with more crunch.
🪵 Pioppino
slender stem, small brown cap, firm and slightly crunchy
Example: Pioppini sautéed whole, stems and all.
🇫🇷 French: Pioppino
🇩🇪 German: Pioppino
🇮🇹 Italian: Pioppino / piopparello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pioppino
💡 Nuance: Also called black poplar mushroom. Firmer snap than a soft oyster.
slender stem, small brown cap, firm and slightly crunchy
Example: Pioppini sautéed whole, stems and all.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pioppino🇫🇷 French: Pioppino
🇩🇪 German: Pioppino
🇮🇹 Italian: Pioppino / piopparello
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pioppino
💡 Nuance: Also called black poplar mushroom. Firmer snap than a soft oyster.
👂 Wood Ear
thin rubbery mushroom, common in Asian cooking
Example: Wood ear added crunch to the hot-and-sour soup, not a meaty bite.
🇫🇷 French: Oreille de Judas
🇩🇪 German: Judasohr
🇮🇹 Italian: Orecchio di Giuda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Orelha-de-pau
💡 Nuance: Texture mushroom. Black fungus is the dark, closely related kitchen name.
thin rubbery mushroom, common in Asian cooking
Example: Wood ear added crunch to the hot-and-sour soup, not a meaty bite.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Oreja de palo🇫🇷 French: Oreille de Judas
🇩🇪 German: Judasohr
🇮🇹 Italian: Orecchio di Giuda
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Orelha-de-pau
💡 Nuance: Texture mushroom. Black fungus is the dark, closely related kitchen name.
⚫ Black Fungus
dark gelatinous mushroom, close kin to wood ear
Example: Dried black fungus bloated in water and went into the stir-fry.
🇫🇷 French: Champignon noir
🇩🇪 German: Schwarzpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Fungo nero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fungo preto
💡 Nuance: Shop bags often use this name for cloud ear / wood ear types. Crunch, not roast-meat flavor.
dark gelatinous mushroom, close kin to wood ear
Example: Dried black fungus bloated in water and went into the stir-fry.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Hongo negro🇫🇷 French: Champignon noir
🇩🇪 German: Schwarzpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Fungo nero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fungo preto
💡 Nuance: Shop bags often use this name for cloud ear / wood ear types. Crunch, not roast-meat flavor.
⭐ Prized & Seasonal
🍯 Morel
honeycomb cap, rich and earthy - a spring prize
Example: Fresh morels in cream sauce after a wet spring.
🇫🇷 French: Morille
🇩🇪 German: Morchel
🇮🇹 Italian: Spugnola
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Morchela
💡 Nuance: Always cooked. The honeycomb is hollow. Lookalikes exist in the wild - this page is kitchen vocab, not an ID guide.
honeycomb cap, rich and earthy - a spring prize
Example: Fresh morels in cream sauce after a wet spring.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Colmenilla🇫🇷 French: Morille
🇩🇪 German: Morchel
🇮🇹 Italian: Spugnola
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Morchela
💡 Nuance: Always cooked. The honeycomb is hollow. Lookalikes exist in the wild - this page is kitchen vocab, not an ID guide.
🎺 Chanterelle
trumpet-shaped - fruity aroma, peppery and earthy
Example: Chanterelles smelled like apricots in the pan.
🇫🇷 French: Girolle / chanterelle
🇩🇪 German: Pfifferling
🇮🇹 Italian: Finferlo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Canário / chantarela
💡 Nuance: Ridges under the cap, not true gills. Black trumpet is the dark, thinner relative.
trumpet-shaped - fruity aroma, peppery and earthy
Example: Chanterelles smelled like apricots in the pan.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Rebozuelo / chantarela🇫🇷 French: Girolle / chanterelle
🇩🇪 German: Pfifferling
🇮🇹 Italian: Finferlo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Canário / chantarela
💡 Nuance: Ridges under the cap, not true gills. Black trumpet is the dark, thinner relative.
🌰 Porcini
thick stem, broad cap, nutty and rich
Example: Dried porcini went into the risotto water.
🇫🇷 French: Cèpe
🇩🇪 German: Steinpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Porcino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Porcini / cèpe
💡 Nuance: Italian kitchen name. Cèpe and penny bun are the same idea. A bolete with pores, not gills.
thick stem, broad cap, nutty and rich
Example: Dried porcini went into the risotto water.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Porcini / hongo🇫🇷 French: Cèpe
🇩🇪 German: Steinpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Porcino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Porcini / cèpe
💡 Nuance: Italian kitchen name. Cèpe and penny bun are the same idea. A bolete with pores, not gills.
⚫ Black Trumpet
thin dark trumpet with an intense earthy flavor
Example: A few black trumpets went further than a pile of buttons.
🇫🇷 French: Trompette de la mort
🇩🇪 German: Totentrompete
🇮🇹 Italian: Trombetta dei morti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trombeta-negra
💡 Nuance: The French name sounds grim. The mushroom is a fragrant cook's ingredient, not a warning label.
thin dark trumpet with an intense earthy flavor
Example: A few black trumpets went further than a pile of buttons.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Trompeta de los muertos🇫🇷 French: Trompette de la mort
🇩🇪 German: Totentrompete
🇮🇹 Italian: Trombetta dei morti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trombeta-negra
💡 Nuance: The French name sounds grim. The mushroom is a fragrant cook's ingredient, not a warning label.
🦔 Hedgehog Mushroom
teeth under the cap instead of gills
Example: The hedgehog looked like a chanterelle until you flipped it.
🇫🇷 French: Pied-de-mouton
🇩🇪 German: Semmelstoppelpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Steccherino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pé-de-cabra
💡 Nuance: The teeth are the ID in a market crate. Flavor sits near chanterelle: mild, nutty.
teeth under the cap instead of gills
Example: The hedgehog looked like a chanterelle until you flipped it.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Hidno / pie de cabra🇫🇷 French: Pied-de-mouton
🇩🇪 German: Semmelstoppelpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Steccherino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pé-de-cabra
💡 Nuance: The teeth are the ID in a market crate. Flavor sits near chanterelle: mild, nutty.
🌲 Matsutake
highly aromatic mushroom prized in Japanese and other East Asian cooking
Example: Matsutake season is short and the price follows the smell.
🇫🇷 French: Matsutake
🇩🇪 German: Matsutake
🇮🇹 Italian: Matsutake
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Matsutake
💡 Nuance: Pine scent is the point. Not a flavor you hide in heavy sauce.
highly aromatic mushroom prized in Japanese and other East Asian cooking
Example: Matsutake season is short and the price follows the smell.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Matsutake🇫🇷 French: Matsutake
🇩🇪 German: Matsutake
🇮🇹 Italian: Matsutake
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Matsutake
💡 Nuance: Pine scent is the point. Not a flavor you hide in heavy sauce.
💎 Truffle
underground fungus prized for intense aroma
Example: A few shavings of truffle did more than a jar of truffle oil.
🇫🇷 French: Truffe
🇩🇪 German: Trüffel
🇮🇹 Italian: Tartufo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trufa
💡 Nuance: Not a cap-and-stem mushroom on a log. Black and white truffles are different seasons and prices. Many "truffle oils" are aroma chemicals.
underground fungus prized for intense aroma
Example: A few shavings of truffle did more than a jar of truffle oil.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Trufa🇫🇷 French: Truffe
🇩🇪 German: Trüffel
🇮🇹 Italian: Tartufo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Trufa
💡 Nuance: Not a cap-and-stem mushroom on a log. Black and white truffles are different seasons and prices. Many "truffle oils" are aroma chemicals.
🌈 Woodland Shapes
🧡 Chicken of the Woods
bright shelf mushroom - firm, often compared to chicken when cooked
Example: Chicken of the woods browned in strips like poultry.
🇫🇷 French: Polypore soufré
🇩🇪 German: Schwefelporling
🇮🇹 Italian: Pollo dei boschi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Frango-da-floresta
💡 Nuance: Not maitake (hen of the woods). This one is a colored shelf, not a ruffled cluster.
bright shelf mushroom - firm, often compared to chicken when cooked
Example: Chicken of the woods browned in strips like poultry.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pollo de los bosques🇫🇷 French: Polypore soufré
🇩🇪 German: Schwefelporling
🇮🇹 Italian: Pollo dei boschi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Frango-da-floresta
💡 Nuance: Not maitake (hen of the woods). This one is a colored shelf, not a ruffled cluster.
🦚 Turkey Tail
colorful fan-shaped shelf - tough, more tea than dinner
Example: Turkey tail is simmered, not sautéed like an oyster.
🇫🇷 French: Tramète versicolore
🇩🇪 German: Schmetterlingstramete
🇮🇹 Italian: Coda di tacchino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cauda-de-peru
💡 Nuance: On lists of edible fungi, but not a culinary cap. Leathery. People brew it more than they chew it.
colorful fan-shaped shelf - tough, more tea than dinner
Example: Turkey tail is simmered, not sautéed like an oyster.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Cola de pavo🇫🇷 French: Tramète versicolore
🇩🇪 German: Schmetterlingstramete
🇮🇹 Italian: Coda di tacchino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cauda-de-peru
💡 Nuance: On lists of edible fungi, but not a culinary cap. Leathery. People brew it more than they chew it.
🕯️ Shaggy Mane
tall white cylinder cap - eaten only when young, before it turns to ink
Example: Shaggy manes have to hit the pan the same day.
🇫🇷 French: Coprin chevelu
🇩🇪 German: Schopftintling
🇮🇹 Italian: Coprino chiomato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Coprino-cabeludo
💡 Nuance: Also called lawyer's wig. Deliquesces into black liquid as it ages. Young or not at all.
tall white cylinder cap - eaten only when young, before it turns to ink
Example: Shaggy manes have to hit the pan the same day.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Coprino cabelludo🇫🇷 French: Coprin chevelu
🇩🇪 German: Schopftintling
🇮🇹 Italian: Coprino chiomato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Coprino-cabeludo
💡 Nuance: Also called lawyer's wig. Deliquesces into black liquid as it ages. Young or not at all.
🏐 Giant Puffball
large round mushroom - solid white inside when young
Example: Thick puffball steaks only if the inside is pure white.
🇫🇷 French: Vesse-de-loup géante
🇩🇪 German: Riesenbovist
🇮🇹 Italian: Vescia gigante
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bufa-de-lobo gigante
💡 Nuance: Kitchen rule of thumb: white and uniform, or skip it. Yellow or purple inside is past cooking.
large round mushroom - solid white inside when young
Example: Thick puffball steaks only if the inside is pure white.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Bejín gigante🇫🇷 French: Vesse-de-loup géante
🇩🇪 German: Riesenbovist
🇮🇹 Italian: Vescia gigante
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bufa-de-lobo gigante
💡 Nuance: Kitchen rule of thumb: white and uniform, or skip it. Yellow or purple inside is past cooking.
🦞 Lobster Mushroom
a mushroom colonized by another fungus - orange-red outside, lobster look
Example: The lobster mushroom stained the pan like paprika.
🇫🇷 French: Champignon homard
🇩🇪 German: Hummerpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Fungo aragosta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo lagosta
💡 Nuance: Not a species you grow from a kit. A white host mushroom plus a parasite that turns it red and firm.
a mushroom colonized by another fungus - orange-red outside, lobster look
Example: The lobster mushroom stained the pan like paprika.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Hongo langosta🇫🇷 French: Champignon homard
🇩🇪 German: Hummerpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Fungo aragosta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo lagosta
💡 Nuance: Not a species you grow from a kit. A white host mushroom plus a parasite that turns it red and firm.
🥬 Cauliflower Mushroom
large branching fungus that looks like a cauliflower head
Example: The cauliflower mushroom hid dirt in every fold.
🇫🇷 French: Sparassis / champignon chou-fleur
🇩🇪 German: Krause Glucke
🇮🇹 Italian: Sparassis
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo-couve-flor
💡 Nuance: Shape name. Not related to garden cauliflower. Needs careful cleaning.
large branching fungus that looks like a cauliflower head
Example: The cauliflower mushroom hid dirt in every fold.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Seta coliflor🇫🇷 French: Sparassis / champignon chou-fleur
🇩🇪 German: Krause Glucke
🇮🇹 Italian: Sparassis
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo-couve-flor
💡 Nuance: Shape name. Not related to garden cauliflower. Needs careful cleaning.
🧈 Slippery Jack
bolete with a slimy cap and a history in the kitchen
Example: Cooks often peel a slippery jack before it hits the pan.
🇫🇷 French: Bolet visqueux
🇩🇪 German: Butterpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Boleto viscido
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Boleto-viscoso
💡 Nuance: The cap skin is the slip. Some people peel it. Not every bolete is a porcini.
bolete with a slimy cap and a history in the kitchen
Example: Cooks often peel a slippery jack before it hits the pan.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Boleto viscoso🇫🇷 French: Bolet visqueux
🇩🇪 German: Butterpilz
🇮🇹 Italian: Boleto viscido
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Boleto-viscoso
💡 Nuance: The cap skin is the slip. Some people peel it. Not every bolete is a porcini.
🧣 Velvet Shank
small winter mushroom - dark velvety stem, orange-brown cap
Example: Velvet shank on a winter log looks like wild enoki.
🇫🇷 French: Collybie à pied velouté
🇩🇪 German: Samtfußrübling
🇮🇹 Italian: Gambasecca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pé-de-veludo
💡 Nuance: Related to cultivated enoki. Wild form is darker and shorter.
small winter mushroom - dark velvety stem, orange-brown cap
Example: Velvet shank on a winter log looks like wild enoki.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Seta de terciopelo🇫🇷 French: Collybie à pied velouté
🇩🇪 German: Samtfußrübling
🇮🇹 Italian: Gambasecca
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pé-de-veludo
💡 Nuance: Related to cultivated enoki. Wild form is darker and shorter.
🍷 Wine Cap Mushroom
large mushroom with a reddish-brown cap and a meaty bite
Example: Wine caps grown on garden chips went into the stew.
🇫🇷 French: Stropharie rouge-vin
🇩🇪 German: Rotbrauner Riesenchampignon
🇮🇹 Italian: Cappello di vino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo chapéu-de-vinho
💡 Nuance: Also called garden giant. A cultivated outdoor mushroom, not a portobello with wine sauce.
large mushroom with a reddish-brown cap and a meaty bite
Example: Wine caps grown on garden chips went into the stew.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Seta vino / stropharia🇫🇷 French: Stropharie rouge-vin
🇩🇪 German: Rotbrauner Riesenchampignon
🇮🇹 Italian: Cappello di vino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cogumelo chapéu-de-vinho
💡 Nuance: Also called garden giant. A cultivated outdoor mushroom, not a portobello with wine sauce.
🧠 Useful Distinctions
⚪ Button vs. 🤎 Cremini / chestnut vs. 🍔 Portobello
One species at different ages and colors. Button is young. Cremini and chestnut are brown mid-stage. Portobello is the mature cap.
One species at different ages and colors. Button is young. Cremini and chestnut are brown mid-stage. Portobello is the mature cap.
🐚 Oyster vs. 👑 King oyster
Oyster is a soft fan. King oyster is a thick stem you slice and sear.
Oyster is a soft fan. King oyster is a thick stem you slice and sear.
🐔 Maitake vs. 🧡 Chicken of the woods
Maitake is hen of the woods: a ruffled gray-brown cluster. Chicken of the woods is a bright shelf that cooks a little like poultry.
Maitake is hen of the woods: a ruffled gray-brown cluster. Chicken of the woods is a bright shelf that cooks a little like poultry.
👂 Wood ear vs. ⚫ Black fungus
Same kitchen job: soaked crunch, not a meaty roast. Bags swap the names.
Same kitchen job: soaked crunch, not a meaty roast. Bags swap the names.
🎺 Chanterelle vs. ⚫ Black trumpet vs. 🦔 Hedgehog
Chanterelle is golden and fruity. Black trumpet is dark and louder. Hedgehog wears teeth instead of gills.
Chanterelle is golden and fruity. Black trumpet is dark and louder. Hedgehog wears teeth instead of gills.
💎 Truffle vs. supermarket mushrooms
A truffle grows underground and is sold for aroma. It is not a large cap you grill like a portobello.
A truffle grows underground and is sold for aroma. It is not a large cap you grill like a portobello.
🦚 Turkey tail
On edible lists, but tough. Think simmered tea more than a sauté.
On edible lists, but tough. Think simmered tea more than a sauté.
💬 Everyday Mushroom Phrases
🍔 Use the portobellos as the steak, not as a garnish.
mature cap vs. sliced buttons
🇫🇷 Les portobellos sont le steak, pas la garniture.
🇩🇪 Die Portobellos sind das Steak, keine Garnitur.
🇮🇹 I portobello sono la bistecca, non il contorno.
🇵🇹 Os portobellos são o bife, não o enfeite.
mature cap vs. sliced buttons
Show translations
🇪🇸 Usa los portobellos como el filete, no como adorno.🇫🇷 Les portobellos sont le steak, pas la garniture.
🇩🇪 Die Portobellos sind das Steak, keine Garnitur.
🇮🇹 I portobello sono la bistecca, non il contorno.
🇵🇹 Os portobellos são o bife, não o enfeite.
🐔 Hen of the woods is maitake. Chicken of the woods is the bright shelf.
two bird names, two mushrooms
🇫🇷 Hen of the woods, c’est le maitake. Chicken of the woods, c’est la tablette vive.
🇩🇪 Hen of the Woods ist Maitake. Chicken of the Woods ist der bunte Porling.
🇮🇹 Hen of the woods è il maitake. Chicken of the woods è la mensola colorata.
🇵🇹 Hen of the woods é maitake. Chicken of the woods é a prateleira colorida.
two bird names, two mushrooms
Show translations
🇪🇸 Hen of the woods es maitake. Chicken of the woods es la seta de estante brillante.🇫🇷 Hen of the woods, c’est le maitake. Chicken of the woods, c’est la tablette vive.
🇩🇪 Hen of the Woods ist Maitake. Chicken of the Woods ist der bunte Porling.
🇮🇹 Hen of the woods è il maitake. Chicken of the woods è la mensola colorata.
🇵🇹 Hen of the woods é maitake. Chicken of the woods é a prateleira colorida.
💎 Truffle oil is not the same as a real truffle.
aroma bottle vs. the fungus
🇫🇷 L’huile de truffe n’est pas une vraie truffe.
🇩🇪 Trüffelöl ist nicht dasselbe wie eine echte Trüffel.
🇮🇹 L’olio al tartufo non è un tartufo vero.
🇵🇹 Azeite de trufa não é uma trufa de verdade.
aroma bottle vs. the fungus
Show translations
🇪🇸 El aceite de trufa no es lo mismo que una trufa de verdad.🇫🇷 L’huile de truffe n’est pas une vraie truffe.
🇩🇪 Trüffelöl ist nicht dasselbe wie eine echte Trüffel.
🇮🇹 L’olio al tartufo non è un tartufo vero.
🇵🇹 Azeite de trufa não é uma trufa de verdade.
🥢 Dried shiitake for broth. Fresh ones for the pan.
two forms, two jobs
🇫🇷 Shiitaké sec pour le bouillon. Frais pour la poêle.
🇩🇪 Getrocknete Shiitake für die Brühe. Frische in die Pfanne.
🇮🇹 Shiitake secchi per il brodo. Freschi in padella.
🇵🇹 Shiitake seco para o caldo. Fresco para a frigideira.
two forms, two jobs
Show translations
🇪🇸 Shiitake seco para el caldo. Fresco para la sartén.🇫🇷 Shiitaké sec pour le bouillon. Frais pour la poêle.
🇩🇪 Getrocknete Shiitake für die Brühe. Frische in die Pfanne.
🇮🇹 Shiitake secchi per il brodo. Freschi in padella.
🇵🇹 Shiitake seco para o caldo. Fresco para a frigideira.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the more precise mushroom word.
Read the situation. Choose the more precise mushroom word.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%