Lobster Mushrooms - Hypomyces lactifluorum
Lobster Mushrooms get their name from their striking red color and taste which resembles that of a lobster. The red color that is associated with these mushrooms are from a colonizing mold which will ultimately parasitize the mushroom host covering the entire outer fruiting body. Yet when you cut the mushroom open it has a bright white hue. Lobster Mushrooms are often found under Hemlock trees in late summer into early autumn and prefer the dryness of summer. The colonizing mold gives this meaty mushroom its highly desired flavor. These mushrooms are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen.