Verpas

Verpa bohemica

Verpas are one of the first mushrooms to appear after the season for winter mushrooms is ended. Verpa species usually collected in this area are Verpa bohemica and Verpa conica. Verpa bohemica is often marketed to unsuspecting consumers as Early Morels and False Morels.

Verpa bohemica, also called early Morels, False Morels or Thimble Caps, are not recommended for the casual mushroom consumer and are only offered for sale by Trufflezone to true mycophiles or experienced chefs, as they need special handling. They contain a toxic alcohol called monomethylhydrazine (MMH). With careful preparation, these mushrooms have been consumed "safely" for many generations. MMH, like other alcohols, evaporates at about 112 degrees. By cooking the mushrooms at a temperature higher than that, the alcohol is cooked off and is no longer present. Care must be taken to not inhale the concentrated alcohol as it evaporates (professional chefs have commercial exhaust fans). We collect several hundred pounds of these a year and market them to our most experienced chefs. These are available by special order only so that we may be certain that our retail customers understand the special handling requirements (our goal is to have happy repeat customers, not to intoxicate the general public). For the less adventurous, morels will be here in full force (and at in season prices) by the second week of May or possibly sooner this season.

Verpa bohemica is similar in appearance and texture to Morchella spp. but the top of the stem is attached to the cap at the top of the cap and the stems are filled with pith. This aging specimen has been attacked by springtails, small arthropods that relish many types of fungi, especially Verpas, morels and porcini.

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