Native Mushroom Grow Kit - Pekepekekiore

Try your hand growing our native and delicious Pekepekekiore, also known as Icicle Fungus or Coral fungus. This mushroom grow kit comes ready to fruit, it does however need a little more love and attention than our other kits!

Background:

Māori traditionally foraged for Pekepekekiore during the colder seasons. Thanks to science and hard mahi we are lucky enough to be able to grow it in our own homes. This beautiful species has a faint seafood/crustacean flavour and a unique look. It is an absolute must grow for any cultivator in Aotearoa.

This stunning species is also known as Icicle Fungus or Coral Fungus. It's scientific name Hericium novae-zealandiae is an epithet that C. Smith at The Mushroom Smith helped confer along with collaborators at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. This species is part of the Coralloides group within the Hericium genus and as such "NZ Lions Mane" is an inappropriate title. Instead here at The Mushroom Smith we refer to with the Te Reo Māori name or it's scientific name.

Growing:

These mushroom grow kits are fully colonized at shipping and come ready to fruit on arrival. Pekepekekiore is a slower fruiting species and usually takes a month in fruiting conditions before the first harvest. This species is reasonably easy to cultivate as long as you have some sort of dedicated fruiting setup. Kits come with a instructions and a few simple suggestions for how to create your own simple setup.

For example:

1. Cut a small X into one side of the bag
2. Fold down the top and tape tightly close
3. Place grow kit inside a large plastic tub
4. Gently spray down the sides and lid with water
5. Place lid
6. Twice daily open the tub and fan out the air, then spray again
7. Be patient

Kits are usually made fresh to order. This is also a slower growing species so please expect a four week wait before shipping notification. It is assumed you will have the knowledge and facilities to successfully fruit them. 

Cultures used for these kits have all been sourced by The Mushroom Smith locally with full consent and permission from iwi and land owners.