Edible mushrooms are divided into two groups according to their use: Medicinal use and cooking. The former includes reishi mushrooms and black hoof mushrooms, which are boiled in water or used as medicinal ingredients in traditional medicine. The latter can be eaten raw but is more often used to prepare different dishes. In fall, traditional markets and fifth-day markets of Gangwon-do offer a great variety of mushrooms.

Mushrooms help return organic matter into the soil by breaking it down into minerals. That is why mushrooms are commonly found on fallen logs. Pine mushrooms, however, are an exception, as they tend to grow near living trees. Generally, mushrooms grown for human consumption are cultivated by introducing fungi into a container filled with sawdust or wood chips. However, because pine mushrooms grow on living trees, they cannot be cultivated.

True to their name, pine mushrooms grow near pine trees that are at least 20 years old. They require optimal moisture levels and shade to thrive. Even if they have grown to a good size, pine mushrooms only protrude slightly over the dried pine needles, making them quite difficult to find for those unaccustomed to gathering them.

Pine mushrooms have a firmer texture and a distinctive aroma that sets them apart from other types of mushrooms. To retain their fragrance, pine mushrooms should not be washed in water but rather be dusted lightly with a soft cloth. Imported pine mushroom is washed in water before being imported, so they tend to be less fragrant than the ones gathered in Korea.

Pine mushroom harvesting begins before Chuseok and ends when the trees change colors. They are deemed to be even more precious than others as they are only available for a short period of time during the fall. Some pine mushrooms that have not yet formed their caps are given as gifts and can command prices exceeding KRW 1 million. Pine mushrooms with fully formed caps are not used as gifts, as the makes them more fragile, though they are still suitable for eating.

A good way to fully enjoy the flavor of pine mushrooms is through shabu-shabu. If you order shabu-shabu in restaurants serving pine mushrooms, you will get a pot full of various vegetables and mushrooms. The way to enjoy the mushrooms is to blanch them quickly in the vegetable broth. Once you’ve finished the ingredients, you can use the broth—now enriched with the fragrance of pine mushrooms and meat—to make porridge, noodle soup, or fried rice.

Another way to enjoy pine mushrooms is to grill them on a griddle with beef. Grilling the pine mushrooms with beef fat can elevate the texture and the fragrance to another level. For a more affordable option, you might try ‘pine mushroom pot rice,’ which is made by topping rice with thinly sliced pine mushrooms and steaming them. This creates a delectable pot of steamed rice infused with the rich fragrance of pine mushrooms.

Other types of mushrooms that can be found in fall in Yangyang are coral mushrooms and shingled hedgehogs. Coral mushrooms have a broom-like shape and need to be soaked in salt water for an extended period to remove toxins before eating. Shingled hedgehogs are popular for their mild fragrance and chewy texture. They are enjoyed in similar ways to coral mushrooms, such as by blanching in salt water or adding them to soup.