In 1818 the Frenchman Jean Baptiste Bernadotte came to the throne of Sweden as King Karl Johan. He brought French eating habits to his new country and this is how the cep or boletus edulis became popular as the Karl Johan mushroom. However it was not commonly used until well into the 20th century.
One of the most delicious mushrooms in the forest is the little Horn of Plenty. Fried in butter with a little garlic and a pinch of salt it is a source of delight for every mushroom picker.
NEVER eat a mushroom if you’re not absolutely sure what sort it is. Many of the most common ones in Sweden are extremely poisonous. The best way to learn to distinguish between the different species is to go into the woods with someone who has both knowledge and experience.
There are huge numbers of lingonberries and bilberries all over Sweden. They have always been a natural ingredient in cooking and picking berries was part of a peasant’s regular tasks. Today only 5% of the country’s bilberries are picked. They are a favourite with elks, deer and birds.
Lingonberries are nery nutritious and a spoonful on porridge, sour milk, herring, meatballs, dumplings or blood pudding makes a meal complete.
A lot of plants were used for medicinal purposes in the days when ordinary people couldn’t get help from a doctor or chemist. An example of this is meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) which prefers damp places. It contains salicylic acid and both its flowers and leaves are rich in vitamin C. The dried leaves are considered good for reducing fever and relieving headaches.
