Nordic mushrooms – get to know the species
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Sand Bolete

Sand Bolete

Suillus variegatus
Edible
★★★☆☆
Taste rating: 3 out of 5

How to identify it

Cap
The cap is yellow-brown to olive-brown, dry and velvety rather than slimy. It is convex at first and later more expanded.
Underside
The tubes are yellowish to olive-yellow. The pores are relatively small and may become darker with age.
Stem
The stem is yellowish to brownish, solid and usually without a ring. It may have small brownish colour changes.
Smell
Mild, sometimes slightly sour mushroom smell.

Occurrence and habitat

Common in pine woodland and on sandy, poor soils. Forms mycorrhiza with pine.

Look-alike species

These mushrooms can resemble Sand Bolete. Look closely at features, habitat and images to see the differences.

Ear bolete
Ear bolete
Suillus bovinus
★★★★★
Fair edible mushroom

The ear bolete is another pine-associated bolete and can resemble the sand bolete. Cap structure and colour, as well as the appearance of the pores, are important for identification.

Read more about Ear bolete ›

Preparation

Clean and cut away the stem base. Cut into pieces and fry until the liquid has evaporated. Suitable for stews, sauces and soups.

Recipe suggestions

Sand Bolete soup: fry chopped Sand Boletes and onion in butter. Add stock and potatoes, cook until soft and partly blend. Finish with cream, salt and pepper.

Images – study the mushroom from several angles

Click an image to display it as the main image.

⚠ Important safety information

Sand Bolete is recognisable by its dry, velvety cap and pine habitat, but reliable identification should always be made before eating.

Facts and sources

Sources
Svampguiden; SLU Artdatabanken/Artfakta.
Batch 11 supplemented – should be finally checked against current