Welcome to
Hotel Gletscherblick
Alpine Herbs & Mushrooms
"Nature provides abundantly, but take only what you know, and honor it by taking only what you need."
Welcome to the Wild Alpine Cuisine!
Discovering Herbs & Mushrooms.
Between rocky peaks, sunlit alpine meadows, and mysterious forests lies a treasure that cannot be weighed in gold: the alpine flora. In this blog, we will take you on expeditions through the Alps, show you which herbs and mushrooms can be discovered, and explain what to keep in mind when foraging.
A small guide for gatherers
To preserve our beautiful natural landscapes, we must approach them with respect.
- Only collect what you know for sure.
Many herbs and mushrooms look very similar to each other, some of which are toxic and can cause serious harm.
If you're unsure, leave the plant or mushroom where it is.
- Take only as much as you really need.
The joy of finding something often outweighs the benefit of taking it home. You don’t need to pick everything; sometimes it's enough to observe, smell, or take a photo. Nature should remain a treasure for others too.
- Especially important: Make sure to leave protected or rare plants alone.
They are part of a delicate ecosystem, are rarely seen, and are not to be collected.
- Be mindful with nature.
Please don’t leave trash behind, avoid trampling meadows, and set a good example.
Those who collect with care will become friends of nature, not its enemies.
Alpine Herbs
Mushrooms
Alpine Herbs
For savour & Heal
The St. Anton mountain world is not only breathtakingly beautiful but also rich in alpine herbs. On sunny meadows, at the edges of forests, and along hiking trails, plants grow that have been cherished for centuries. Some are used as flavorful ingredients in the kitchen, while others serve as natural remedies in the home pharmacy.
Here, you'll find a wealth of herbs that you can discover with all your senses: the spicy thyme (wild thyme), aromatic thyme, the delicately fragrant ground ivy, or the lemony alpine sorrel. The leaves of nettles are perfect for a fresh soup or herbal tea, while the mild-flavored goutweed shines in salads or as wild greens. Yarrow, with its delicate flowers, and lady's mantle, often found in moist meadows, are also valued as medicinal plants.
However, not everything that grows in the mountains is harmless. Some herbs, like gentian or masterwort, are under protection. Others, like comfrey or St. John's wort, should only be used with expertise. And some plants have toxic look-alikes. That's why, when foraging, the rule is always: only collect what you can confidently identify, and take only as much as you truly need.
Alpine herbs at Gletscherblick
Our chef, Paul, refines many dishes with freshly marinated alpine herbs, bringing the flavors of the region directly to the plate!
As a little souvenir, we offer homemade mountain herb salt. It’s an aromatic blend of herbs from the mountains and our own garden. A piece of vacation to take home, and a touch of the Alps in your kitchen.
Herb Tours
In the heart of St. Anton, 15 themed gardens at the Sennhütte await your discovery. The Fairy Meadow, the Witch's Garden, the Farm Garden, and many more provide space for around 1,000 plants that grow along the Alpine Flower and Herb Trail around the Sennhütte.
Innkeeper and herbal educator Tanja Senn leads a tour every Thursday at 11 a.m. through her alpine flower and herb beds, offering tips on herb processing, their use in cooking, and how to forage for these treasures.
Alpine Mushrooms
The forests around St. Anton are a paradise for mushroom foragers. When the humidity is high and temperatures are mild, various types of mushrooms sprout from the ground. From edible mushrooms like chanterelles and porcini to lesser-known varieties like the milkcap, the diversity is truly impressive.
A Delicacy in the Kitchen
Did you know that the mushrooms we use at Gletscherblick come directly from the region?
Our chef, Paul, is not only an excellent chef but also an avid mushroom forager! As soon as the first mushrooms start to grow in the region, he’s out searching and collecting. The mushrooms he collects add a special touch to our evening menu, making it truly shine.
Eager Gatherers
Searching for mushrooms is an adventure in nature. Nature enthusiasts and hikers can explore the region while searching for the best foraging spots.
However, finding mushrooms is often not as easy as expected. They cleverly hide under branches or between leaves and moss. Their camouflage makes it challenging to spot them. While some mushrooms thrive in damp, shady spots under trees, others are found in sunny forest edges or near streams. The best places to forage are often mountain slopes that are not heavily trafficked, or dense mixed forests where mushrooms can grow undisturbed.
To master the art of mushroom foraging, one needs patience, a keen eye, and plenty of experience. An experienced guide can help find the best foraging spots and ensure that only edible specimens make it into the basket.
True mushroom foragers guard their favorite spots like a treasure!
Warning! Toxic Look-Alikes
The most important rule when foraging for mushrooms is to only take those you are 100% sure about. Not all mushrooms are as harmless as they may seem at first glance. Toxic look-alikes, in particular, pose a serious threat. A classic example is the "waterfold bolete," which closely resembles the beloved porcini but is toxic in its raw state. Similarly, the Amanita phalloides (death cap), often mistaken for harmless mushrooms, can lead to severe poisoning.
Nowadays, there are helpful plant apps that can assist with mushroom identification. Apps like PlantNet allow you to identify mushrooms based on photos and distinctive features. These tools provide a quick first assessment and can be especially useful for beginners to verify their finds.
But caution: No app can identify a mushroom as reliably as an experienced forager! Therefore, when in doubt, it’s best to leave the mushroom in the forest rather than risk taking it.