Behind Blue Ridge Country

Despite its unappealing exterior, this member of the jelly mushroom family is edible and though it does not boast the flavor of morels, for example, it does add structure and substance to soups, salads, stews, and egg dishes.

White pine tea has a piney smell and a slight citrus taste, and is actually quite good for us because of its high Vitamin C content.

Auricularia auricular, also known as the wood ear or jelly ear, is a member of the jelly and rubbery fungi family and is commonly found throughout the Blue Ridge Mountain range.

A choice edible, this prize fungi is described as having a seafood texture, which is understandable as many fungi fanciers say Hericium erinaceus possesses a slight seafood flavor of perhaps shrimp or lobster.