Curry Milkcaps
It’s Mushroom Monday, and if you’ve never noticed the similarities between the smell of maple syrup and that of curry, today’s species might surprise you. Meet the Curry Milkcap (aka Candy Cap, Lactarius camphoratus).
Milkcaps are mushrooms that exude a milky juice (sometimes called ‘latex’) when broken or cut. I’ve written about this group before, including the edible, orange-latex Saffron Milkcaps that are common across PEI. Curry Milkcaps are small, with reddish-brown caps (often with a raised bump in the centre), and a watery white latex as seen on the gills of the overturned mushroom in the photo.
Smell can be a useful tool in mushroom identification. One whiff told me these were Curry Milkcaps: they have a distinctive scent reminiscent of a combination of curry, maple syrup, and burnt sugar. (Despite its scientific name, I don’t think it smells like camphor at all). The chemical responsible for the odour is ‘sotolone’, which is also present in fenugreek – an ingredient in some curry powders – and the reason why your urine smells like maple syrup after eating that herb. The smell is noticeable in fresh Curry Milkcaps but is infinitely stronger once the mushrooms are dried; my entire house smelled of them from just a handful in the dehydrator.
Curry Milkcaps are edible, but they don’t taste quite as sweet as they smell. The “true” Candy Caps of western North America – Lactarius rufulus, L. rubidus, and L. fragilis – are said to be strongly sweet and are commonly used to make everything from caramels and cookies to ice cream and panna cotta. Our species is nice, and I have enjoyed it pan-fried. This year, I’ll try adding some dried, powdered Curry Milkcaps to dessert recipes, where I think they’ll add a complex and interesting flavour.
Curry Milkcaps are mycorrhizal fungi, forming partnerships with both hardwood and softwood trees, and can be found scattered in small groups in forests across the Island. When they grow in mossy areas, I find their reddish caps really eye-catching against the green background.
Curry Milkcaps are another of the many ecologically important, interesting, and edible mushrooms of PEI Untamed!
