Hygrophorus russula: carlet

Carlets: the mushrooms that herald the end of autumn

Within the autumnal mushroom hatching season, there are varieties that appear gradually: some are earlier and others take longer to develop. If we find carlets in an oak or beech forest, it's a sign that autumn is coming to an end. These fungi, like Hygrophorus russula, prefer cold weather and tend to appear when many other species have already disappeared.

What is the popular name for Hygrophorus russula?

This mushroom is widely distributed on the Iberian Peninsula and receives very varied popular names depending on the region where it appears. In Catalan, it is known as carlet, vinassa or escarlet; in Basque, as ezko gibel-gorri; and in Castilian, as seta cardenal or hygróforo escarlata. Almost all these names refer to the reddish or vinous tones of its hat.

Characteristics of the carlet

The most recognizable feature of the carlet is the wine color with irregular spots that adorns its cap. These spots combine with a white-toned base, also visible on the foot and blades. The chromatic contrast makes this mushroom particularly remarkable and easy to identify.

Its appearance is robust and fleshy, with carpóforos de gran tamaño and a dense texture. What's more, it gives off a aroma suave y agradable, making it a popular species with pickers and mycology enthusiasts alike.

Bonnet

From convex to flat and with a diameter between 11 and 20 cm. The surface is slightly viscous in wet periods and almost dry in normal weather. The margin is whitish in color and usually appears curled. The main characteristic of the carlet's cap is its purple or wine-colored hue, with spots scattered irregularly all over the cap, which, being whitish in color, makes them stand out a lot.

Foot

we're talking about a mushroom with a fairly robust, thick foot that can easily reach 9 cm in length. The color of the foot is white, the same shade as the bottom of the cap and its lamellae

Lamellae

spaced and thick, and often tend to be slightly decurrent. The color of the carlet lamellae is white with a few pinkish shades, especially in adult specimens

Chair

It is compact and hard and has a subtly bitter sweet taste. The texture of this mushroom is precisely its culinary appeal

Comestible

Despite its somewhat bitter taste, the carlet or cardinal mushroom is considered an excellent edible and is therefore a highly sought-after mushroom by pickers and mushroom lovers alike. If, when cooking, we remove the cuticle, we will reduce this bitter taste and, consequently, it will gain in culinary quality

Where can we find Hygrophorus russula

The carlet is a fairly common species in our forests, preferring calcareous, basic and neutral soils.

To be able to locate Hygrophorus russula, we'll need to direct our search to oak groves, pubescent oak groves and calcareous oak groves, mainly Mediterranean, as it has a preference for these arboreal species and soil types.

It usually appears in large numbers, so if you find one, leave the basket on the ground and look carefully. It won't be long before you locate the rest of the group 😉

It's fair to say that the cardinal mushroom likes shade, shady places and the wettest areas. It can be found in ravines and dense scrubland, hidden between dead leaves. If you're looking for carlets, don't forget to stir up the vegetation (always very carefully, to avoid damaging the mycelium). You're sure to find more!

What is the harvesting period for Hygrophorus russula or purple mushroom?

When we talk about carlets, we're talking about late autumn and the onset of cold weather. So we can find them from late autumn to early winter. Always according to the temperatures of each season

Can I confuse Hygrophorus russula or carlet with other mushrooms?

The carlet is often confused with certain russulas, hence its family name. The cause is undoubtedly its colorful cap. But if we analyze this a little, we can verify that the foot doesn't start out as if it were chalk. The foot of the carlet is fibrous, so this check will instantly put an end to our doubts.

We may confuse this fungus with other hygrophore species, such as H. arbustivus, although none of them has a cap with the hues so characteristic of this fungus

Photographs of Higrophorus russula

It's a colorful mushroom that lends itself greatly to photography, so it's not hard to find photographs of carlets on social networks or the internet.

We've selected the ones that caught our eye, but I'm sure you have others. If you send them to us, we'll add them to this gallery for others to enjoy.

The carlet in the kitchen

As well as being one of the most beautiful mushrooms in existence with its distinctive wine-colored veining, Hygrophorus russula is one of the most widely consumed mushrooms in certain regions, principally Catalonia, where carlet is a highly sought-after mushroom and is usually sold in the usual mycological markets.

To preserve it, it is customary to prepare it in preserves or candied.

Cheers and carlets!