48 euros for mushroom maps: the tech trick shaking up secret forest spots

48 euros for mushroom maps: the tech trick shaking up secret forest spots

In the mysterious world of French mushroom hunting, secrets don’t just hide among the trees—they’re fiercely guarded. For generations, the best mushroom spots have been treasures passed down like family heirlooms, a private legacy known only to the lucky few. Share your secret morel patch, and you might just find your car tyres mysteriously deflated high on some mountain pass. After all, a good mushroom spot is serious business.

A Family Secret—Now with an Algorithm

For the less fortunate—those who didn’t grow up learning the lay of the land from grandparents, or who wouldn’t dream of eavesdropping on card games at a local bar in hopes of overhearing a hint—technology now offers a modern alternative. Since 2020, chasseursdechampignons.com has provided interactive (and paid) maps, revolutionizing the hunt with a click. No sleuthing around smoky back rooms required.

Jordan Monnot, the brain behind this mushroom-tech twist, is quick to set the record straight. “To be clear, this is a purely scientific approach. We don’t steal anyone’s secret mushroom haunts—we simply suggest the optimal areas to find them,” says Monnot, just back from a rewarding morel harvest in his native Haute-Savoie. If you imagine him handing out coordinates to the Holy Grail of porcini or chanterelle spots, think again. Armed with a degree from Arts et Métiers and experience at Polytechnique, Monnot uses neither magic wands nor whispered tips, but cold, hard data. His approach? A tailor-made algorithm that crunches the numbers on everything experienced rural foragers already sense:

• Types of trees in the forest
• Exposure of the plots
• Soil composition, including acidity
• Biotope conditions
• Latest weather data

With this scientific jumble, he calculates—not reveals—the regions most likely to yield those coveted mushrooms.

The Price of a Treasure Map

Of course, mushrooms don’t just fall into your basket. For those willing to invest 48 euros (and an optional 5 euros per month for the most passionate “subscribers”), Monnot’s maps deliver tailored advice by region and species—a personalized treasure map. But don’t toss out your boots and expect instant bounty. “It’s not a magic wand,” warns Monnot. Typing in a GPS point and waiting for the fungus to leap into your arms won’t cut it. Mushrooms—algorithm or not—must still be earned the old-fashioned way, with a bit of sweat and patience.

That said, Monnot assures his system gives a leg up. His maps aim to optimize your haul—helping you fill your basket, not return home empty-handed. It’s all about stacking the odds in your favor.

Rocking the Roots: Tech Meets Tradition

Unsurprisingly, introducing algorithms to an age-old, secretive world is no stroll through the woods. Each year, Monnot receives around fifty rather unkind messages from traditionalists—proof that some believe the knowledge should remain within families. “Some think this knowledge must stay in the family,” he acknowledges. But Monnot stands firm: “If you didn’t grow up in the countryside, you still have the right to go mushroom picking.” In his eyes, everyone deserves a shot at joining the hunt, tradition or not.

And plenty have jumped aboard this high-tech bandwagon. Monnot claims “thousands of users”—thirty-somethings, retirees, families—among whom around 30% are city dwellers. Though he may be digitalizing a centuries-old craft, Monnot hasn’t lost his respect for tradition. In classic forager style, he predicts “the year will be very good for mushrooms.” His final tip for the eager: seize the next fifteen days for blonde morels—the timing is just right.

This revolution might not sit well with everyone, but one thing is clear: French mushroom hunting is sprouting into the digital age, one algorithm (and morel) at a time.