Giant puffball

Other Names

Puffball

Latin Name

Calvatia gigantea

Usually Found In

UK, Europe, the USA, Central America, Canada

Season

August to October

Probably one of the most mystical and alluring mushrooms, puffballs are massive feats of nature – an architecturally magnificent fungi. Growing, as if by magic, from tiny strands of mycelium, giant puffballs have no stalk, gills or pores. They are literally large, round balls of mushroom flesh – exciting visually when you find them, but also amazing for the kitchen as you get a bumper portion of that almost porcini-like umami taste without any of the delicate cleaning duties.