Champignons infusés – infused mushrooms ALCONOT™ style

A mushrooming trend – champignons infusés – infused mushrooms

This one takes a little time and effort but will give you an insight into the growing trend of creating distinct flavours, yes even in Gin and a particularly earthy tasting drink for anyone that is a mushroom lover, great for a vegan diet.

Selection is a key requirement, you need to carefully select the mushrooms so that they have the savoury and earthy taste to them, the usual suspects come to mind like shitake, but others are available like chanterelle (expensive) they have a peppery taste, porcini (piglet) with a deep earthy and nutty flavour and Maitake with and earthy and peppery flavour.  

Once you have made your “fungimental” choice remember to thoroughly clean and dry them, making smaller pieces will help the mushroom release their flavour and also allow the Signature Blend to be absorbed. a very quick saute will allow the mushroom to release the flavours more quickly.

Infusion process – this can take some time 2-3 days to several weeks depending on the strength of your preferred infusion. You will need more Signature Blend that’s for sure.

Once the mushrooms are ready, sauted or otherwise, the choice is yours, you can start the infusion.

Cold infusion – place the mushrooms in a glass container, glass or jar with a cover fill with ALCONOT™ Signature Blend so that all the mushrooms are covered. Leave to infuse, check and top up. tasting should be done by pipette only. Do not re-insert the pipette into the solution after tasting. When the infusion is to your taste then complete the drink by adding additional measures of Signature Blend, 2 should do, add ice or heat slightly using a glass in a pan of water and gently heating to no more than 20 degrees then enjoy in front of the fire.

Heat infusion – this process involves applying some heat to the infused mushrooms and ALCONOT™ Signature Blend. Our ALCONOT™ Signature Blend contains no alcohol so it will not vaporise away, however, only mild heat is required upto 40 degree celsius. Once the drink is at your desired temperature sit back in front of the fire or TV with your favourite program and enjoy.

Garnishes – My favourites would be a few sprigs of rosemary, rubbed between the palms and dropped in to the infusion

Which ever infusion you make, it’s sure to bring back memories of long walks in the countryside.

Let us know how you get on.