Edible Mushrooms: Shiitake, Porcini, Chanterelle and Truffle
Ten mushrooms and fungi prized by cooks around the world: shiitake, enoki and maitake from East Asia; porcini, chanterelle and morel, gathered in European and North American forests; the oyster mushroom; the cremini and the portobello, which are the same mushroom picked at different ages; and the truffle, one of the most expensive foods on Earth.
There are no diagonals, but chanterelle fills an entire column of the 11x11 grid, and portobello and oyster read backwards.
Edible Fungi Vocabulary: 10 Words to Find
Words run across, up and down; 5 of the 10 read backwards. The longest word is Chanterelle, with 11 letters.
- Chanterelle: A golden, trumpet-shaped wild mushroom with a fruity smell, gathered in forests.
- Cremini: A brown button mushroom, the young form of the portobello.
- Enoki: A long, thin white mushroom with tiny caps, used in Japanese soups and hot pots.
- Maitake: A frilly mushroom that grows in clusters at the base of trees, also called hen-of-the-woods.
- Morel: A wild spring mushroom with a honeycomb-shaped cap, hunted by foragers.
- Oyster: The oyster mushroom, a fan-shaped mushroom that grows on wood.
- Porcini: A meaty wild mushroom prized in Italian cooking, often dried.
- Portobello: A large, mature brown mushroom with a wide, flat cap, often grilled like a burger.
- Shiitake: A brown Asian mushroom with a rich, smoky flavor, grown on logs.
- Truffle: A rare underground fungus with an intense aroma, sniffed out by trained dogs.
How to Solve the Edible Fungi Word Search
"Chanterelle" fills a whole column from top to bottom. "Portobello" and "porcini" both start with POR, so check carefully. "Shiitake" has a double I, and "truffle" a double F; truffle has the only F.
Mushroom Lesson Ideas and Kitchen Activities
- Explain that mushrooms are fungi, not plants, and how they feed.
- Compare a cremini and a portobello: the same mushroom at two ages.
- Cook a simple dish with two or three varieties from the list, and remember: never eat wild mushrooms without an expert.
Edible Fungi Word Search FAQ
Who is the Edible Fungi Word Search for?
Students aged 10 and up, cooks and mushroom lovers.
Which directions do the words run in?
Words run across, up and down; 5 of the 10 read backwards. There are no diagonal words.
Is there an answer key for the Edible Fungi Word Search?
Yes. Download it from the printable section above: it is a separate PDF with all 10 words marked. Online, each word is crossed off the list the moment you find it.
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