Nature Guide: Go Mushroom Hunting in Asserbo Plantation

Pick delicious edible mushrooms

There's nothing quite like fresh mushrooms you've found yourself in nature. Asserbo Plantage is an ideal area where you can find good edible mushrooms. You just need to be aware of which mushrooms you take home with you. If you're not very experienced in which mushrooms you can and cannot eat, it's always a good idea to bring a helpful tool. For example, download the Svampeatlas app on Google Play or in the App Store. This way, you can get a helping hand on your mushroom hunt. You use the app by tapping 'name suggestions', after which your picture of the mushroom you've picked will be analyzed. After the analysis, a series of species will appear that could possibly be the mushroom you have in your hand.

Ask an experienced mushroom expert for advice if you are in doubt before eating the mushrooms. Even if there is image recognition and you might feel confident, some poisonous mushrooms can resemble common edible mushrooms. An experienced mushroom expert can spot the small differences in the mushroom. However, you shouldn't be afraid to go mushroom hunting, just do your research.

The warmth and rain from May contribute to favorable mushroom growth. You might be lucky enough to find chanterelles in June in Asserbo Plantage, as they grow in coniferous forests, among other places. Make sure to bring a basket and a good knife for your mushroom hunt.

Fear not if you don't find any edible mushrooms right away. Nature's fluctuations and the animals in the area can influence how many mushrooms you can find in certain places. It's all about patience. Make sure to bring provisions in the form of snacks and drinks so you can enjoy a long day hunting for mushrooms on the forest floor without getting hungry, tired, or thirsty. Perhaps prepare a good lunch the evening before in the form of a good sandwich or rye bread. You can find fresh ingredients for your mushroom hunting lunch in the area around Asserbo and Tisvilde.

Gather edible berries and herbs for cooking

If you want to gather something other than mushrooms when you visit Asserbo Plantage, you can hunt for berries and herbs in the plantation. You can find, among other things, orpine. The name might sound familiar, as the herb is also found in Danish gardens, just as it is found in nature. The herb has a green, matte color, the leaves are teardrop-shaped, and it has large flower heads in a dusty pink color. You should pluck the leaves from the plant, and perhaps use the rest to decorate the lunch table. The leaves can be put in a salad or in a homemade dressing.

Rowan berries are also not an unlikely sight to encounter in the plantation, as rowan loves deciduous and coniferous forests. Despite their bitter reputation, they can certainly be used in cooking. It's all about preparation. You can recognize rowan by their red or orange berries that hang in clusters. The leaves are elongated, and small white flowers grow on the plant. You cannot eat raw rowan berries without experiencing stomach discomfort, but if you heat the berries, the substance that can trigger stomach problems disappears. Rowan berries can be used for rowanberry jelly, schnapps, in baked goods, or in ice cream. Due to their bitter taste, they are good as a contrast to sweetness.

Something you might not have expected as an edible plant is the dandelion. In Denmark, the plant is greatly underestimated and considered a weed. However, one should not be mistaken. The truly fantastic thing about the dandelion is that you can use the entire plant. The taste is bitter and can resemble arugula – meaning you can use dandelion leaves in the same food situations where you would pull out arugula. Due to its bitterness, dandelion is a good counterweight to sour, sweet, and salty. You could perhaps try your hand at a pizza with dandelion instead of arugula on top.

Once you have collected everything you can find of berries, herbs, and mushrooms, it's time to head home and work your magic in the kitchen. Explore our hand-picked holiday homes near Asserbo Plantage, where you can take your time with cooking and being present with those you love.

Also read our interview with Nina Christensen from Sanketure.dk, who gives her best advice on what can be foraged in Danish nature.