Cow's tongue or chamois mushroom

2 ans ago · Updated 3 semaines ago

Cow tongue mushroom, hydnum repandum, llengua de bou or chamois, a delicious edible mushroom that is rarely harvested and is a real treat in the kitchen. We reveal all its secrets

Cow tongue mushrooms are delicate mushrooms that can be found in our mountains until the end of the cold season. Although they are not a highly prized mycological species, nor one of the most sought-after, they do have a certain reputation.

This is not surprising. Their taste and the quantity of cow's tongue mushrooms that can be found if you locate a good chamois circle make this mushroom one of the surprises of the mountains in winter.

This is largely due to the fact that cow tongue mushrooms are easily confused with other toxic or poisonous mushrooms when we go mushroom hunting in the mountains with our mushroom basket. There are very few species that have a hymenium like the Hydnum, with small spines that are very easy to distinguish. And few species are as tasty!

If you would like to learn more about the Hydnum genus, we recommend this field mushroom guide

This slice knife is the most suitable for picking cow's tongue mushrooms.

Table

Names of the cow's tongue mushroom

The cow's tongue mushroom is known by many popular names. We have already mentioned that it is one of the most abundant species and, although it is not very well known, it has been eaten for a long time.

Cow's tongue, but a mushroom, not an animal

Although the scientific name for cow's tongue is Hydnum repandum. Its relatives Hydnum albidum and Hydnum rufescens are also called by the same name. These three species are known by the same popular name. This is due to the characteristic shape of their hymenium, composed of small spines that resemble a cow's tongue.

However, the wide variety of names is not Latin but popular. Thus, this unusual mushroom is known in Spanish as gamuza, cow's tongue, sheep's foot, or cat's tongue.

In Catalan, it is called llengua de bou or vaqueta, in Basque zizauri, negu ziza, tripaki argia and in Galician llingua de vaca.

In Europe, it is called Pied de mouton, langue de chat (France), Wood Hedgehog (UK) or steccherino (Italy).

What are cow tongues like, mushrooms?

Cow tongue mushrooms or cat's tongue mushrooms have very special characteristics, mainly in their hymenium. This makes them easily identifiable. But we will still explain the main characteristics point by point. If you want to know what cow tongues look like, take note.

Cap

Between 4 and 15 cm in diameter, it is initially flat and convex in shape. Later, it spreads out irregularly or becomes globular. It is brittle; the edge often appears cracked and, when mature, it takes on a lobed shape. The cuticle is thick, difficult to separate, matte, dry, and creamy white in specimens found buried. In those that are not buried, the tone is more yellowish, orange-cream.

Stem

The stem is short and thick, similar in color to the cap. Between 2 and 6 cm high and 1-3 cm in diameter, and mostly eccentric.

Hymenium

All species of Hydnum have a hymenium formed by spines or spines that, when touched, come off easily. The spines are very numerous, fragile, between 2 and 6 millimeters long, and pointed. They are paler in color than the cap and decurrent.

Flesh

Whitish in color, compact, dense, and brittle. It has no apparent odor and tastes somewhat bitter, especially in mature specimens.

How can cow's foot mushrooms be distinguished from other species?

The main characteristic of Hydnum is the hymenium. The underside of the cap of this species is formed by small, easily removable, tightly packed spines. This is a characteristic of the three types of cow's tongue mushrooms found in our region: Hydnum albidum, Hydnum rufescens and Hydnum repandum).

Another characteristic is their season, which lasts until well into winter. They are resistant to cold temperatures, even below 0ºC. For this reason, they coexist with a limited number of species, making them very easy to identify.

These mushrooms are rarely attacked by insects. As only the spines on the cap need to be removed, cow's tongue mushrooms are very versatile in the kitchen. What's more, they are delicious!

Another characteristic of cow's tongue mushrooms is their fragility; they break very easily. As they often grow half buried, we usually break the caps when harvesting them.

Habitat of cow's tongue mushrooms. Where can you find llengua de bou?

Chamois, cat's tongue, or cow tongue mushrooms are fungi that grow in rows or fairy rings. Sometimes these rings are large, even several meters in diameter.

They appear in large groups, half buried and usually close together.

They like dense, leafy forests. Mainly under conifers (especially Hydnum albidum), although they also grow under deciduous trees (beech, oak, chestnut, etc.).

When can I find cow tongue?

It is an autumn mycological species, although it usually appears even in the middle of winter. It begins to appear in deciduous trees and later in pine forests, continuing to bloom when almost all autumn species have already stopped flowering. It is very resistant to cold, so we should look for it from October to December or January, under dead leaves and pine needles, with only part of its bright cap visible.

Confusion between cow tongue mushrooms and other poisonous mushrooms

We have already mentioned that this is a very easy mushroom to identify and that it can only be confused with other species of Hydnum, all of which are edible.

Types of milk cap mushrooms. Characteristics and differences

The different species of milk cap mushrooms that we may encounter in our forests are as follows:

Hydnum albidum

It likes white pine, Aleppo pine, or pinus halepensis. It is typically Mediterranean, and of the three species of cow's tongue mushrooms, it is considered to be the highest quality for eating. It sprouts under the needles of pinus halepensis mixed with dwarf oak or kermes oak. Its main characteristic is the pure white color of the entire mushroom, from the stem to the cap. The pure white color stands out against the vegetation and makes searching for this mushroom very enjoyable.

Hydnum repandum

We are talking about a cow mushroom that prefers oak and beech forests. It is cream-yellow in color. Its taste is slightly more bitter than that of its relatives, especially in mature specimens.

Hydnum rufescens

It is called cat's tongue and is the smallest of the three species. Its distinctive bright orange color is very characteristic. We often find all three species of cow's tongue mushrooms in the same habitat. The stem of this species is thin and its center is denser.

Images of cow's tongue mushrooms, llengua de bou

Finding and photographing cow's tongue mushrooms is extremely enjoyable. These specimens stand out from the substrate and vegetation where they grow. We can find some beautiful photos of Hydnum. Here is a selection of the best ones.

Cow tongue mushrooms in cooking. Edibility

This variety is a true unknown. It is rarely used in cooking and not highly sought after, so enthusiasts who seek it out and harvest it are in luck. This edible mushroom combines perfectly with a multitude of flavors and cooking methods (sautéed, grilled, stewed, etc.). It should be noted that if the spines are not removed, they can cause a slight bitterness. The same applies to overdeveloped specimens. It should also be consumed in moderation, like most mushrooms. May cause discomfort. Apart from these two caveats, it is a very rewarding mushroom.

These mushrooms have little odor, but an intense mushroom flavor that is enhanced when cooked on the grill. When cooked, their flesh turns yellow.

Nutritional information for cow tongue mushrooms (100 g)

  • Energy 31.0 kcal
  • Protein 1.8 g
  • Carbohydrates 4.0 g
  • Fiber 2.5 g
  • Fat 0.3 g
  • Cholesterol 0.0 mg
  • Monounsaturated fatty acids 0.0 g
  • Saturated fatty acids 0.07 g
  • Polyunsaturated fatty acids 0.17 g
  • Folic acid 23.0 ug
  • Iron 1.0 mg
  • Calcium 9.0 mg
  • Zinc 0.1 mg
  • Vitamin C 4.0 g
  • Vitamin A 0.0 ug
  • Sugars 4.0 g
  • Salt (sodium) 5.0 mg

Health and cow tongues!

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