Terminology

Colonisation:

The phase when mycelium—the main body of fungi—spreads through the substrate, preparing it for fruiting. In your kit, this happens before you receive it, as the substrate is already fully colonised.

Cultivation:

The process of growing mushrooms indoors with your kit. This involves cutting the plastic, maintaining humidity, and harvesting the mushrooms, covering the fruiting and harvesting phases.

Dual-Extract Powder:

A concentrated form of mushroom material made by extracting both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds, enhancing potency. Used in our capsules (e.g., Lion’s Mane 10:1 dual-extract means 100mg extract equals 1g whole mushroom), it’s steam-activated and micronised for maximum bio-availability.

Flush:

A “crop” or batch of mushrooms produced at one time. Your kit can yield 2-3 flushes, with each followed by a short resting period before the next growth cycle.

Fruiting:

The growth phase when visible mushrooms emerge from the substrate. With your kit, this starts after cutting the ‘X’ and misting, leading to pins and mature mushrooms.

Fruitbodies:

The visible, mature part of the mushroom (e.g., caps and stems) that grow from the mycelium. Used in our Lion’s Mane Tincture alongside pure mycelium for a full-spectrum extract.

Full-Spectrum Extract:

An extract capturing all beneficial compounds from mushrooms, including heat-sensitive ones, achieved through methods like ultrasonic extraction. Our tinctures use this approach for potent, bio-available results.

Humidity Tent:

A simple tool to trap moisture around your kit in dry conditions. For example, placing a clean smoothie lid (with its drinking hole open) into the box window helps maintain the ideal 85-95% humidity, useful in drier climates.

Hydro-Ethanolic Extraction:

A process using water (hydro) and ethanol to extract compounds from mushrooms. Our tinctures combine spring water and food-grade organic ethanol (approximately 30%) to create a bio-available extract.

Inoculation:

The process of introducing mushroom growth into a substrate. In your kit, this is pre-done, so the substrate arrives ready to fruit when you open it.

Mycelium:

The fine, white, thread-like network that forms the main body of fungi, growing within the substrate. You’ll see this white growth inside your kit before mushrooms appear, sometimes as a fuzz or coating under the plastic, especially with white oysters. It’s also used in our Lion’s Mane Tincture for its unique benefits.

Pins or Pinning:

The initial stage of mushroom growth, where tiny fruiting bodies (baby mushrooms) form. With your kit, pins appear within 1-2 weeks for oysters, 2-4 weeks for Lion’s Mane, and 2-3 weeks for Chestnut after cutting and misting.

Spores:

Tiny reproductive structures released by mature mushrooms. In your kit, harvesting before spore drop (when caps flatten) preserves freshness and future yields, as spores can weaken the mycelium if left too long.

Strain:

A distinct variety within a mushroom species, like the white, brown, grey, pink, or yellow Oyster strains in your kits, each with unique traits (e.g., colour, flavour).

Substrate:

The material on which mushrooms grow. Your kit uses a pre-colonised mix of bran, sawdust, and water (65%), optimised for Oyster, Lion’s Mane, or Chestnut mushrooms.

Ultrasonic Technology:

A non-thermal extraction method using sound waves to break down mushroom cell walls, releasing compounds without heat damage. Our tinctures use this advanced process for a potent, full-spectrum extract.