Based on a decade of ethnomycological research and archival studies in Poland, this presentation provides an in-depth analysis of the country’s position at the extreme end of the mycophilia spectrum, placing the Polish case in the broader context of global trends and debates. Historically, Poland has been shaped by conflicting influences – classical and ecclesiastical works discouraging the cultural elite from engaging with the world of fungi (a legacy of mycophobia) and vibrant rural traditions celebrating mushrooms as an essential food source and part of local culture. Extensive field research conducted in Mazovia is proof of the victory of the latter factor. It shows a still-vibrant tradition of mushroom use, which in Mazovia alone includes over 90 wild taxa. Currently documented knowledge still includes a richly developed folk taxonomy and in-depth ecological observation. Contemporary practices and the habitat awareness of the local community present traditional knowledge about the use of mushrooms in Poland as a sophisticated system of knowledge, which has largely developed independently of the conventional science. In an international context, Poland is at the extreme end of mycophilia, which invites comparisons with other distant communities with an equally developed culture of mushroom use, such as Mexico. This analysis is based on Wasson’s classic model, highlighting similarities in the resilience of knowledge, symbolic depth and adaptation to modernity. The tensions between local tradition and regulatory frameworks, as well as the interaction between scientific and folk knowledge, are discussed as global issues. Ultimately, the case of Poland shows that mycophilia and mycophobia are not static traits, but dynamic, culturally conditioned processes shaped by history, ecology and intergenerational dialogue. Understanding these processes is crucial for biocultural diversity, nature conservation and the future of human-fungal relations worldwide.
