John Miller
Lion's Mane mushrooms are available from a variety of sources, including online retailers, local markets, and mushroom farms. For example, they can be purchased fresh from Whole Foods, R&R Cultivation, and River Valley Ranch, or as supplements from Amazon. Additionally, they can be obtained from local farmers' markets, such as the Cityseed farmers' market in Wooster Square, or grown at home using a kit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sellers | R&R Cultivation, Whole Foods, City Seed Market, Union City Farms, Amazon, Ferg's Fabulous Fungi, FarmDeliver, Ion Market, Sea Coast Mushrooms, Edge of the Woods, River Valley Ranch, LlamaJohns.com |
| Form | Fresh, supplement capsules |
| Preparation | Best sliced and sautéed in olive oil or butter |
| Flavor | Savory and slightly sweet, likened to crab or lobster |
| Texture | Fuzzy, shaggy, meaty |
| Color | White or cream |
| Health Benefits | May improve brain function and increase cognitive function |
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What You'll Learn
Fresh Lion's Mane Mushrooms
Where to Buy
- Farmers' Markets: The Cityseed farmers' market in Wooster Square is known to have a mushroom vendor, and you may be able to find Lion's Mane mushrooms there.
- Grocery Stores: Whole Foods carries Lion's Mane mushrooms, but they tend to sell out frequently. Other options include Ion Market in Middletown and Union City Farms in Prospect, CT.
- Online Retailers: Several online retailers, such as R&R Cultivation and River Valley Ranch, offer fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms for sale. These companies specialize in mushroom cultivation and often provide information about the growing process and the potential health benefits of their products.
- Local Mushroom Growers: Depending on your location, you may be able to find local mushroom growers or foragers who sell fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms. This could include individuals selling their harvest or small-scale mushroom farms.
Preparation and Cooking
Lion's Mane mushrooms have a unique, fuzzy appearance with bright white or cream-colored flesh. Before cooking, they have a soft, shaggy texture and a distinct earthy smell. When cooked, they take on a texture similar to meat, making them an excellent substitute in various dishes. Here are some tips for preparing and cooking Lion's Mane mushrooms:
- Slicing and Sautéing: Many cooks recommend slicing the mushroom clusters into 3/4" "steaks" and sautéing them over low heat with a small amount of olive oil or butter. This enhances their savory and slightly sweet flavor.
- Imitation Crab Cakes: Due to their lobster-like flavor and texture, Lion's Mane mushrooms work well in imitation crab cakes. They can be sautéed in butter and garlic to create a delicious and nutritious dish.
- Health Benefits: Anecdotally, Lion's Mane mushrooms are associated with numerous health benefits, including improved brain function and cognitive health. While much of the research has been conducted on mice, the mushroom's neurotrophic properties may have potential benefits for human consumers as well.
Growing Your Own
If you're interested in a steady supply of fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms, you can also consider growing your own. Mushroom growing kits are available online and from specialty stores, offering an enjoyable and sustainable way to cultivate your own crop at home.
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Supplements and capsules
Lion's Mane mushroom supplements are available from a variety of retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Fungi, and Real Mushrooms. These supplements are often marketed as supporting brain health, improving cognitive function, and enhancing memory. Some supplements also claim to improve mental clarity, focus, and overall well-being.
Real Mushrooms is a popular brand that offers a variety of Lion's Mane mushroom supplements, including capsules and powders. Their products are often verified by third-party testing and are known for their quality. Real Mushrooms' Lion's Mane extract capsules are made with 100% mushrooms (fruiting bodies) and are organic, vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free. They are marketed as supporting overall well-being and improving neurological health.
Another brand, Double Wood, offers Lion's Mane mushroom capsules that are third-party tested and grown in the USA. These capsules are marketed as supporting brain health and immune function, with some customers reporting improvements in mental clarity, memory, and focus. However, there are also reports of negative side effects, including nausea, stomach pain, and headaches.
Amazon offers a wide range of Lion's Mane mushroom supplements, including brands such as DR. EMIL NUTRITION, Horbäach, FreshCap, and Genius Lion's Mane. These supplements vary in dosage and form, with some being vegetarian or vegan-friendly. Many of these supplements highlight their ability to support cognitive function and improve focus and mental clarity.
Walmart also carries Lion's Mane mushroom supplements, including brands such as BulkSupplements, Research Labs, and Fungies. These supplements are available in capsule or gummy form and are marketed as supporting brain health, focus, and memory.
Lastly, Fungi offers Lion's Mane mycelium-based supplements, which are known for their ability to provide cognition, memory, and mood support. They also carry a variety of capsule options, including Stamets 7, MyCommunity, and their own branded Lion's Mane capsules.
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Grow-at-home kits
There are several companies that sell Lion's Mane mushroom grow kits, including Cascadia Mushrooms, North Spore, Smugtown Mushrooms, Urban Farm-It, and Fat Moon Mushrooms. These kits provide an easy and beginner-friendly way to cultivate your own Lion's Mane mushrooms at home.
Cascadia Mushrooms
Cascadia Mushrooms offers a Lion's Mane Mushroom Grow Kit that allows you to grow delicious Lion's Mane mushrooms. While there are limited instructions on their website, a customer review mentions using a plastic bag tent for about 5 days, followed by misting twice a day.
North Spore
North Spore offers an Organic Lion's Mane 'Spray & Grow' Mushroom Growing Kit. This kit is USDA-certified organic and is designed to be beginner-friendly. It comes with a fully colonized sawdust block, a sprayer, and an instruction booklet. You simply cut an "X" into the plastic bag, spray with water 2-3 times a day, and watch your mushrooms grow.
Smugtown Mushrooms
Smugtown Mushrooms offers a Lion's Mane Mushroom Grow Kit that is suitable for beginners. Their kit includes a sawdust spawn and a humidity bag. They also provide recipes and resources to learn more about the clinical benefits of mushroom medicine.
Urban Farm-It
Urban Farm-It offers a Lion's Mane Mushroom Growing Kit starting from £24.99. Their kit includes a pre-colonised substrate and a humidity bag. It is easy to use, requiring only misting to start growing. With the right conditions, you can expect your first harvest in as little as 10-15 days.
Fat Moon Mushrooms
Fat Moon Mushrooms offers a Lion's Mane Grow Kit that is suitable for beginners. Their kit includes a grow block that is shipped when it's ready to ensure successful growth. They guarantee that you will grow fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms or your money back.
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Medicinal mushrooms
Where to Buy Lion's Mane Mushrooms
Lion's Mane mushrooms can be purchased fresh or as supplements. Fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms are available from specialty grocers like Whole Foods, farmers' markets, and local mushroom farms. Online retailers such as Amazon also offer a variety of Lion's Mane products, including mushroom capsules and supplements.
For those who prefer to cook with fresh mushrooms, R&R Cultivation offers fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms, although availability may vary. River Valley Ranch in Wisconsin also grows and sells Lion's Mane mushrooms year-round without the use of chemicals or growth enhancers. Ferg's Fabulous Fungi, run by experienced mushroom farmer Brody Ferguson, is another source for fresh, gourmet, and medicinal mushrooms.
Potential Health Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushrooms
Lion's Mane mushrooms are believed to have a range of health benefits, although many of these effects have primarily been observed in mice, and more research is needed to confirm these effects in humans. That being said, Lion's Mane mushrooms are known to contain neurotrophic compounds, including hericenones and erinacines, which have been linked to improved nerve growth factors and enhanced brain function. This suggests that Lion's Mane mushrooms may have the potential to support patients with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's, dementia, or MS.
In addition to the potential cognitive benefits, some people who have incorporated Lion's Mane mushroom supplements into their diet have reported improvements in their mood and short-term memory. However, it is important to approach these supplements with caution, as one individual reported experiencing paranoia after taking Lion's Mane supplements.
Culinary Uses of Lion's Mane Mushrooms
Lion's Mane mushrooms are known for their unique, shaggy appearance and bright white or cream-coloured flesh. They have a soft, shaggy texture and a distinct earthy smell when raw. When cooked, Lion's Mane mushrooms transform into a succulent texture reminiscent of crab or lobster, making them an excellent meat substitute. The recommended method of preparation is to slice the mushrooms into "steaks" and sauté them in butter or olive oil, although they can also be used in imitation crab cakes.
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Mushrooms in Connecticut
Lion's Mane mushrooms are known for their medicinal properties and their texture and taste, which resemble lobster or crab. They can be cooked in butter or ghee and seasoned with salt and pepper. While Lion's Mane mushrooms are available for purchase online and in grocery stores, they can also be grown at home using mushroom-growing kits.
In Connecticut, the winter weather can make it challenging to grow certain types of mushrooms outdoors. However, residents can take advantage of indoor mushroom-growing kits to cultivate their own gourmet mushrooms, including Lion's Mane. Connecticut Garden Journal recommends growing mushrooms indoors during the winter, as gourmet mushrooms can be challenging to find in the wild and expensive to purchase in stores.
Online retailers like Seacoast Mushrooms offer Lion's Mane mushrooms for purchase in 4-ounce increments. These mushrooms can be cooked in various ways to enhance their flavour and texture. However, it is unclear whether Seacoast Mushrooms ships to Connecticut or if they are based in the state.
For those interested in growing their own Lion's Mane mushrooms, mushroom-growing kits are available online. These kits provide an easy way to grow Lion's Mane and other varieties, such as oyster, wine cap, and shiitake mushrooms, in the comfort of your own home. By following simple instructions, you can harvest multiple rounds of mushrooms and enjoy fresh, gourmet mushrooms even during the winter months.
While it is not known if River Valley Ranch ships to Connecticut, they offer fresh Lion's Mane mushrooms grown year-round at their mushroom farm in Wisconsin. They pride themselves on not using any chemicals, preservatives, or growth enhancers, ensuring a natural product.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy lion's mane mushrooms from Instacart or R&R Cultivation. Instacart offers delivery or pickup from local and national retailers, while R&R Cultivation sells fresh lion's mane mushrooms online.
Lion's mane mushrooms are native to North America, Northern Europe, and northern Asia. They grow on hardwood trees and can also be cultivated on sawdust or pre-cut logs.
Lion's mane mushrooms have long, spine-like growths that drape like a lion's mane. They have bright white or cream-colored flesh and a fluffy, shaggy appearance.
Lion's mane mushrooms have a savory and slightly sweet flavor. Some people describe the taste as similar to shellfish, such as crab or lobster.
Before cooking, wipe the dirt off the mushrooms and cut off the woody base. It's best to avoid getting them wet as they absorb water easily. Lion's mane mushrooms can be sliced into "steaks" and sautéed with olive oil or butter.
