Our comments on Gourmet/Medicinal Kits:
Blue Oyster: The Blue oyster is one of the quickest oysters to
fruit. They tolerate cold weather and will fruit in temps as low as 55
degrees! This type of oyster is typically used in high end dishes. The
mushrooms are thinner and more delicate than some of the other oysters
but have a more complex flavor that makes it one of the most popular
oysters.
Black Pearl King Oyster: This unique variety is a hybrid
between European Trumpet Oyster and Japanese Brown Oyster. The result
was an oyster mushroom with the most "Umami" flavor profile. We hear all
the time this is one of the best tasting oyster. These are slower to
fruit but will produce large dense mushroom caps and prefer the cooler
side of the temperature range.
Pink Oyster: These are one of the most fun mushrooms to grow.
The bright pink mushrooms look like flowers and can brighten up any
kitchen! This oyster grows in the tropics and the vibrant pink color
shows even on the mycellium. Pink oysters love warmer temps and do best
between 70-82 degrees. The pink oyster has a very unique "Ham" like
flavor and are always a top seller at our farmers market. These
mushrooms are wonderful on pizza and pair well with any pork recipe.
Yellow/Golden Oyster: The yellow oyster is another fun,
beautiful flower like mushroom to grow. They grow in huge clusters and
the caps are thin and delicate. They grow in pretty much any conditions
and temperatures and are extremely easy to grow. They have a nutty taste
who some say taste like cashews or almonds. They are great in just
about any recipe. This is a great choice for any first time grower.
White Pearl Oyster: This is another easy to grow oyster that grows fast and is usually
bright white to light grey when fully mature. These produce medium
sized mushrooms that are not too thick and not too thin. This is a great
choice if you want an oyster mushroom that can be used in any recipe.
They grow in temperatures ranging from 64-76 degrees, but do best on the
cooler side.
Phoenix Oyster: This oyster is very similar to the white
oyster but produces shorter, wider clusters. The phoenix oyster is a
true summer mushroom and loves warmer temperatures. This is a great
oyster to grow along with medicinal mushrooms that require warmer
fruiting temps (73-78 degrees). This mushroom is a treat to eat, has a soft, velvety and sweet flavor reminiscent of anise and is super easy to grow.
Antler Reishi: By now you probably heard of the amazing
documented health benefits of this amazing medicinal mushroom. If not,
you can read more about them by clicking the "additional Information
tab". We are huge fans of the Antler variety. It is really fun to grow!
All you need to do is place it in a spot that gets adequate indirect
light and watch it grow. Each block will do something different.
Sometimes it will grow a few long thin antlers that can reach over 24"
long, other times it will grow small antler pods with 20-30 different
branches going in all directions. All Reishi take about 2-4 months to
reach maturity. A great way to enjoy this mushroom is making Reishi tea.
When ready to harvest you slice it very thin and boil for 30 mins to
extract all the medicinal properties. Its great to mix with your regular
tea and most people enjoy the taste when prepared this way.
Lion's Mane: This unique mushroom has dramatically gained
popularity in the last few years and is one of our best selling
varieties. New research has proven the brain boosting benefits and the
ability to help with some major diseases like Dementia, Depression,
Anxiety and more. This mushroom is also delicious when cooked. Unlike
many vegetables cooking mushrooms enhances or amplifies the health
benefits. Most people agree that Lion's mane has a lobster or scallop
like flavor and texture. Lion's mane is very easy to grow and can
produce many batches of mushrooms for 4-6 weeks. Depending on how much
light or oxygen they are exposed to can change the appearance. More
light will give it a pink hue and more oxygen will make it grow larger,
but will have a coral like appearance. Either way it grows is just
personal preference and makes it another fun, interesting variety to
cultivate!
Pioppino: Also know as Black Poplar. This mushroom looks like a
typical brown mushroom and is easily mistaken for magic mushrooms or
psilocybe cubensis. This mushroom will grow in just about any soil mix
and is pretty quick to start fruiting. This is a great mushroom for any
Italian dish and has a savory, nutty taste. When growing this mushroom
it can grow in many odd sizes. We have seen giant balls or some very
thick meaty 8-9" monsters! Definitely an entertaining mushroom to
cultivate!
Shiitake: Everyone knows shiitake mushrooms. Probably the most
widely cultivated mushroom at home. Our shiitake strain is very
aggressive and usually produce a large amount of mushrooms over several
flushes. We ship these during the curing stage which is when the outer
layer of mycelium turns brown and forms a hard leather like skin.
Waiting to introduce light later in its life produces higher quality
mushrooms. This is how professional growers produce the large mushrooms.
Shiitake is extremely easy to grow and can produce mushrooms for
months!
Maitake (Hen of the Woods): This is one of the best tasting
forest mushrooms. Known for its rich nutty flavor and its amazing
medicinal properties it's one of the most sought after mushrooms to
forage in the fall. Growing Maitake indoors has always been a challenge.
After years of trial and error we have developed the ideal hardwood
substrate mix, fruiting technique and perfected (by cloning) a strain
that will produce indoors.
Maitake contains an impressive amount of polysaccharides,
triterpenes and additional bioactive chemicals that are known to offer a
wide range of health benefits. Research shows that its beta glucan
content has immune-supporting effects as well as anti-viral properties.
The mushroom's bioactive polysaccharides support the body in helping to
ward off pathogens. This is particularly useful when there's a cold
going around at the office, or you're experiencing stress and have a
weakened immune system. Maitake has also been shown to support healthy
blood sugar levels, help reduce insulin and support weight loss by
regulating cortisol levels, which is a major cause of stress related
weight gain.