Turkey Tail
Latin name : Trametes versicolor)
Hul'qumi'num : kwumsuli'qw (mushroom)
Description: Turkey tail mushrooms are small (1-4 inch) shelf mushrooms that grow from decaying deciduous and conifers logs. The tops of their caps are hairy but smooth, and beautifully striped with just about any colour: from browns, blues, greens, whites, purples, oranges, to sometimes black. They are thin and leathery, growing without a stalk. Their fruiting bodies can grow as disks, semicircles, and spoon-like shapes, sometimes fusing to create long turkey tail waves along a log. Underneath they have pores white-yellow (usually yellow indicating older mushrooms), and their spore print is also white.
Harvest and Sustainability: Turkey tail can be found year-round if the weather permits, their preference being a mild climate, with ample moisture. You're most likely to find them spring through fall, excluding extreme heat and droughts (yet occasionally in these times their dried fruiting bodies can still be harvested and used!). If you find a log supporting turkey tail take note! Turkey tail can and will fruit multiple times on the same log through the years, meaning you can have an inventory of fresh turkey tail. When they are young they have a thick white edge (margin) that feels buttery, leave them be at this stage as they have yet to release their spores. The leathery texture of turkey tails lets them last longer in the forest without becoming waterlogged, so if you find young turkey tails, give them a week or so and re-visit them! The entire top of the cap should have a velvety texture when harvesting. Turkey tail can be torn or cut from the log, not much damage can be done to the hyphae living within the log.
Their low water content and leathery texture mean that turkey tails dry out fast! This is great for storage. Simply leave your harvested turkey tails in a paper bag on the counter until they snap when bent. They will likely keep longer than you can resist using them, but if you store them in an air-tight container, in a dark cool place, they may keep forever.
Uses: Turkey tail is one of the most friendly and medicinal mushrooms you will meet. They have amazing immune support and antioxidant qualities, and countless others. They are friendly in that it's hard to have “too much” of this mushroom.
My suggested use: Tea
Simmer multiple caps (ripped up) in water for at least 20minn.
The measurements are up to you. As I said, turkey tails are very friendly, with no overbearing flavor. I have simmered turkey tails for days, still getting tea out of them. You can also add other teas to them. I normally simmer licorice root fern with my turkey tails as they can be simmered the same way. Occasionally I simmer chai spices with this turkey tail and licorice root fern blend, which is also very delicious.
