Witches Butter
Hul'qumi'num: kwumsuli'qw (mushroom)
Latin: Tremella mesenterica, Tremella aurantia & Dacrymyces palmatus
Photo Credits: Demi Kelly
Description: There are at least three very similar-looking species of fungi that are known as Witches Butter. They are pretty hard to differentiate, making identifying a specific species quite difficult. They are, however, all non-toxic and edible, making the Witches Butters a generally safe and good beginner fungi to forage. These are jelly fungi, which means what it sounds like: they are springy and swollen with water. Witches Butters’ structures are rounded, bulbous, and amorphous in shape, with many folds, looking almost brain-like. On average, they are around 4cm, and emerge, with no stalk, from the bark of dead trees. They are bright yellow to orange and fade pale when they are past their prime.
Harvest and Sustainability: Witches Butters can appear year-round; they just require enough water to support their structure, so you will more frequently find them growing in the shoulder seasons. You will always find them growing on dead trees, deciduous (T.mesenterica/T.aurantia) or coniferous (D.palmatus). You want to harvest them only when they are bright in colour, and their structure is intact. When they are past their prime, they turn pale and start to melt or shrivel up in dry conditions. This is a very widespread and resilient mushroom, and it is not one you would eat much of, so there is little worry of overharvesting. Nevertheless, always be mindful and respectful of the environment you forage from.
Uses: Witches Butters don’t have much for flavor or texture. They are not fungi you will forage for dinner, they are basically jelly water. Knowing this fungi is safe and has a high water content is significant though. In a potential survival situation where safe water or even a source of water is unknown, Witches Butter can be a lifesaving source of hydration.
This fungi also provides many medicinal benefits, such as:
Immune support
Anti-inflamitory
Anti-diabetic properties
Lowering cholesterol
Liver protection
Allergies support
Support against radiation
I would highly recommend doing your own research to understand the scope of potential benefits and the limitations of studies on Witches Butters (and which Witches Butters) to conclude if it is something you would benefit from taking as a medicine.
Recipe: I have seen some people utilize their jelly structure and lack of flavor, turning them into candy gummies. Here is a blog with that process: https://www.theglasspantry.com/candied-witches-butter
