Root Mushroom Farm Lion's Mane Mushroom Grow Kit, 4 lb

Brand: The Root Mushroom Farm

A four pound colonised block that produces white, shaggy lion's mane clusters through a cut in the bag. Fruiting is quick once pins set, often a week to ten days, and a single block can give two or three flushes if it is kept humid and not allowed to dry between them. The mushroom is picked while the spines are still short and white, before it yellows.

Lion's mane suits cooks who want texture rather than strong flavour: the flesh is close to crab meat when seared in butter. It is also the species most people buy for its reputation in supplements, though a kit is food, not medicine. Practical caveat, the block needs steady humidity and dislikes draughts, so a clear tent or box around it helps considerably.