When mushrooms bloom …

Most of you have likely tasted the tin-packed mushrooms, which are easily available from shops. But have you ever tried the ones that are nothing short of a miracle, the mushrooms that appear only after the blessing of rain?

People living in urban areas hardly experience the thrill of seeing a mushroom push its way out from the soft, damp soil after a rain. In contrast, those living in rural regions of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or other parts of the country where there’s less concrete and more nature, witness this small wonder almost every monsoon.

That’s because they still have the natural atmosphere intact, untouched earth, where nature is free to bloom in the rawest, most beautiful ways. These seasonal and organic mushrooms are found mostly in sandy desert soils; they are not just a sight to admire; they’re a delicacy in these areas. And believe it or not, people wait for them all year, hoping for just enough rain to bring them to life.

With their bulbous shape and ivory-white or pale beige........

© Dawn Young Magazine