Chestnut mushrooms should be added to your “must eat” list. As you expand your love of mushrooms, it’s fun to try new varieties.
The chestnut mushroom or Pholiota adiposa is a species of fungus that was first noted by a German naturalist in the 1700s. It is most commonly found in Europe, living on beech trees. It can be both a saprophytic mushroom or a parasite on living and dead stems of trees.
So let’s take a look at this less common fungus and why chestnut mushrooms are worth knowing.
What is a Chestnut Mushroom? Agaricus bisporus vs. Pholiota adiposa
First we have to clarify the correct chestnut mushroom – since there are two types of mushrooms that are sometimes referred to as chestnut mushrooms.
The more well-known mushroom sometimes called a chestnut is Agaricus bisporus. These are among the most common mushrooms in the world, both in terms of cultivation and consumption. They are found in nature all over the world, too.
What is the other name for chestnut mushroom?
More commonly known as the button mushroom, it is both white and brown, and is called different names for each color as well as when it is mature.
The immature white variety is called a white mushroom, button mushroom or champignon mushroom. The immature brown version is called Swiss, Roman or Italian brown mushroom, cremini mushroom, baby bella, and sometimes chestnut mushroom. When it matures, it is called a portobello mushroom or portabella mushroom.
However, we are here to explore the less common chestnut mushroom or Pholiota adiposa. If you do a search for the difference between chestnut and ordinary mushrooms, you will likely come up with an explanation of the difference between white buttons and cremini, or buttons and portobello.
But the chestnut mushroom that isn’t as well known is not the same thing. They grow in the wild and are cultivated. So here’s how to identify them.
What Does a Chestnut Mushroom Look Like?
When chestnut mushrooms first begin to grow, they almost look like a flower. Then they develop a rustic brown, chestnut color and resemble a mushroom again, with a shaggy or scaly cap. In fact, pholiota means scaly in Latin and adiposa means grease. That’s because the caps can be slimy when wet.
They grow in clusters, with the stems often joining together where they meet. The caps are yellow to brown and the stems are yellow, turning to a rusty brown color. The caps grow to about 4 inches across, and are convex at first before flattening. The brown scales are densest near the center of the cap. There are also gills below that are pale yellow turning to rusty brown as well.
As with any mushroom, if you have foraged in the wild, it’s best to consult with an expert before eating it.
The Efficacy of Growing Chestnut Mushrooms
Chestnut mushrooms are found in the wild, usually on beech trees, as well as poplars and oaks. You can grow them at home, too. They are not as easy to grow as oyster mushrooms, but are not the most difficult mushroom to grow at home, either.
You can usually get a “harvest” every two or three weeks. You can also eat most of the mushroom, with the exception of the bottom of the cluster which can be tough. If you pick them when they’re young, they will be nice and tender.
Growing Chestnut Mushrooms in Your Home
You can grow chestnut mushrooms using items like plugs, adding to oak or maple trees. Other substrates can be used, such as sawdust. Chestnut mushrooms do prefer somewhat cooler temperatures, from 50-70F. They take about 2-3 weeks to fruit, and should fruit again after you harvest them.
You can also buy growing kits for chestnut mushrooms. This is the easiest way to grow them, and then you can use them in any recipe where you use other mushrooms, such as shiitake. To eat them, harvest while the caps are still convex, before they flatten out.
Eating Chestnut Mushrooms
If you’re certain you have the correct mushroom, the chestnut is edible. You may want to avoid eating the bottom of the stem where it attaches to the cluster of mushrooms, because it can be tough.
The flavor of a chestnut mushroom is described as slightly nutty, with the umami property common in other mushrooms. Umami is savory and one of the five basic flavors, along with sweet, sour, salty and bitter. When sauteed, chestnuts retain some crispiness.
Can you eat chestnut mushrooms raw? It’s better to eat them cooked. Should you peel chestnut mushrooms? No, it’s not necessary. You can simply separate them into individual mushrooms, wash or brush them clean, and you’re ready to cook. It’s not even necessary to slice them if you don’t want to. Simply saute them or cook them as you would any other mushroom, in a variety of recipes.
Chestnut Mushroom Nutrition Facts
What are chestnut mushrooms good for? Besides being tasty additions to your favorite recipe, chestnut mushrooms are also proving to have health benefits that provide even more reasons to eat them.
Pholiota adiposa grows in the wild in Asia, Europe and North America. Traditional medicine has long prized it for its health-care applications. Here are a few reasons it’s good for you:
- Rich in essential amino acids
- Rich in vitamins
- Rich in trace elements and proteins, including bio-active enzymes
As medical research delves deeper into the benefits of the chestnut mushroom, studies are showing that it can provide a number of other powerful boosts to our well-being.
Here are some examples.
In one study, adenosine was isolated from the mushroom, and the extract which was identified to be adenosine displayed potent anti-inflammatory effects. Adenosine, a chemical present in human cells, is known for its “cardioprotective” effects and is the active ingredient in other medicinal mushrooms, including Cordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps) and Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi).
Adenosine is shown to protect the heart from the effects of inadequate blood flow and oxygen supply. It is also used to create a prescription drug for a heart condition marked by episodes of rapid heart rate.
Results of this particular study showed that the adenosine in the chestnut mushroom extract might not only have cardioprotective effects, but also have potential in the treatment of inflammation. Researchers concluded that this could be considered for further pharmaceutical or medicinal value.
Another study showed that a Pholiota adiposa extract could be used as an antioxidant, helping to enhance the response of the immune system. Antioxidants may help protect your cells against free radicals, which may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Still another study determined that a polysaccharide purified from the Pholiota adiposa mycelia exhibited prominent antitumor effects.
As with all mushrooms, the lectins present support the body’s defense mechanisms, including helping with inflammation and cancer. Fungal lectins are attracting attention among researchers due to their antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. There are studies ongoing into its antimicrobial properties as well.
So it’s clear that the Pholiota adiposa or chestnut mushroom is a worthy addition to your diet.
Final Thoughts
The well-known button or cremini mushroom is sometimes called a chestnut mushroom. But there’s another chestnut mushroom that’s worth adding to your diet along with the other healthy fungus you may also be consuming.
The Pholiota adiposa can be found in the wild, and it’s cultivated. It’s even possible to grow at home, even with the ease of a growing kit. And with the health benefits that have been displayed, and continued research into this variety of mushroom, it’s worth adding it to your favorite recipe today.
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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pholiota_adiposa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaricus_bisporus
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6270628/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20801714/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/multimedia/antioxidants/sls-20076428
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6370848/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425051/#B133-ijms-16-07802
https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/pholiota-adiposa.php
https://www.fieldforest.net/product/Chestnut-Mushroom-Table-Top-Farm-Instructions/instruction-sheets
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