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Most mushroom pickers would never put it into their basket, even though at first glance it resembles the true porcini. We’re talking about the gall bolete (bitter bolete) – a mushroom that can spoil the taste of an entire dish with its pronounced bitterness. Nevertheless, it is a mushroom picker’s „treasure“, about which it is said that it has strong anti-cancer effects and can help with other health problems as well.
How to recognize the gall bolete?
You can find the gall bolete in our forests quite often, mostly from June to September. It prefers to grow in coniferous forests, sometimes in mixed ones. You can easily confuse it with the true bolete, because it looks very similar. But the differences are clear:
- has a darkly netted stem (stipe),
- on the underside of the cap it has pinkish tubes,
- it turns pink when touched or cut,
- and the most reliable test is tasting – it has a distinctly bitter taste.
Precisely because of this bitterness it is not popular in the kitchen, as it can spoil an otherwise tasty dish.
The bitter bolete as a natural remedy
Although it really does not belong in soup or sauce, in folk medicine it has an irreplaceable place. Our ancestors already knew that the gall bolete could be used as a quick aid for stomach problems, nausea or diarrhea.
The mushroom is usually dried and ground into a powder which can be taken directly or filled into gelatin capsules. The taste is very bitter, so the second option is much more pleasant.
An opponent of cancer?
According to older records, in the 1980s the gall bolete was even bought up by pharmaceutical companies in Germany. Studies carried out on laboratory mice confirmed that compounds contained in this mushroom have strong anti-cancer effects – they can suppress the proliferation of dangerous cells.
Experts from the Czech Mycological Society confirm that these properties may indeed be real, although the extent of the effects has not yet been fully scientifically explored. Nevertheless, the bitter bolete is classified among mushrooms with significant medicinal potential.
How to use it?
The gall bolete is not intended for ordinary culinary preparation because its bitterness is almost unbearable. However, if you want to try it for medicinal purposes, then:
- dry the mushrooms collected in the forest,
- grind them into a powder,
- and use in small doses (for example, in capsules).
It is always advisable to consult a specialist before you start using the mushroom as a treatment supplement.
Summary
The gall bolete, also known as the bitter bolete, is among the least popular mushrooms in our forests. Although it is not very suitable for the diet, its medicinal effects are worth attention. It contains compounds that may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and because of them it has become an interesting natural remedy. If you find it in the forest, definitely do not throw it away – it can become a valuable part of your home natural medicine cabinet.
