Boletus edulis
A large number of boletes are edible, few are delicious and some are considered to be true culinary delicacies. The much sought after king bolete ("Boletus edulis"), in particular, is a species of high commercial value and has been described as "the wild mushroom "par excellence"". In the Province of Parma in northern Italy, the four most sought after boletes, "Boletus edulis", "B. aereus", "B. reticulatus" and "B. pinophilus", have been collected and commercially exploited for centuries. Boletes are widely collected and sold in markets throughout Spain, particularly the province of Aragon. Scandinavian cuisine praises boletes. They are a regular feature of Finnish cuisine and, especially the king bolete, is considered an unsurpassed culinary mushroom, widely used in various soups, sauces, casseroles and hotpots. Bolete mushrooms are sometimes also used as pizza topping, not unlike champignons, shiitake, or portobellos.