13.05.2025 09:51
In Mersin, at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, the abundance of the wild morel mushroom, known as 'göbelek' by the locals, is being celebrated. Mushroom enthusiasts say, "We might not be this happy even if we found gold," as the mushrooms are sold for 900 lira per kilogram.
The excitement of collectors continues for the rare morel mushroom, which grows spontaneously in the Taurus Mountains. The collection of morel mushrooms, known as 'göbelek' by the locals in the Mersin region, begins around mid-April and lasts until the end of May, depending on the rainfall. These mushrooms grow in the higher parts of forested areas.
HIGH INCOME SOURCE
As the morel mushroom season approaches its end, citizens flock to potential areas where the mushrooms can be collected. Despite its high yield, morel mushroom collecting has turned into a passion for the locals, often carried out by specific groups of friends. Those who know the locations of the mushrooms, which can be seen every year in places called 'ocak', keep this information secret, while newly discovered locations are recorded for the next season. After the rains in April and May, the morel mushrooms that grow in nature are generally brown, but they also come in different shades.
Mushrooms that are not immediately noticeable due to their natural color can be seen more easily thanks to the careful eyes and familiarity of collectors who gain experience over time. It is recommended that morel mushrooms, which should not be uprooted, be collected by cutting their roots with a knife or a cutting tool. This is said to allow them to grow again.
"WHEN WE COME HERE, WE FORGET EVERYTHING"
Hasan Ay, who starts collecting mushrooms with his friends at dawn in the high parts of the Taurus Mountains, said they arrive at a place called Civcikuyu around 5:00 AM. Ay stated that the morel mushroom season begins in April at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains and continues until the end of May, mentioning that there is resin mixed with pine in the area, saying, "Generally, they are more abundant at the base of the resin."
Describing morel mushroom collecting as 'a passion', Ay said, "It is a passion for us. When we come here, we forget everything. We only focus on the morel. This feeling is indescribable; you have to experience it. Because the more you find, the happier you become, and the more you want to search. We collected on an empty stomach today, and as we collect, we forget our hunger. If we find a lot, we take them home. If we find more, there are people in our village who buy morels. The price per kilo ranges from 900 to 1000 TL," he said.
"THIS IS A PASSION FOR US"
Ay expressed that the feeling when he finds a morel mushroom is indescribable, saying, "It cannot be described; you have to live it. It is such a beautiful feeling that you forget everything. It’s a way to relieve stress here. Nature is directly beneficial to a person's health. If we found gold, we might not be this happy. This is a passion for us. We came with a team of four. We agreed among ourselves. One person is the finding team, and the others are the searching team. When one person finds a mushroom, we can quickly search the area with the searching team and find 4-5 more," he said.
Abdurrahman Gül from the team also stated that with the start of the season, they generally collect in areas they already know, adding that they discover new places over time. Gül noted that the morel mushroom collecting season, which starts in the first week of April, is expected to continue until the end of May, provided that the rains persist.