The bit you don’t usually see. Mycelium is the underground network of threadlike filaments that fungi use to grow, spread, and break down their environment. It’s like the root system of a mushroom - though fungi aren’t plants, so it’s a world of its own.
The actual mushroom. It’s the visible, reproductive part of the fungus, the bit that pops up above the surface, and what we use in all our tinctures. We only use whole fruiting bodies, never just mycelium grown on grain.
The growing medium - what fungi feed on and grow through. It can be made from all sorts: grains, wood, or other organic materials depending on the species. Each mushroom has its own preference, and getting the substrate right is key to healthy growth and strong fruiting.
Spawn is a starter culture for growing mushrooms. It’s living mycelium (the fungal network) grown onto a carrier material, usually sterilised grain or sawdust. It’s used to introduce fungi into a new growing environment - kind of like sourdough starter, but for mushrooms.
To inoculate means to introduce mushroom spawn (live mycelium grown on a carrier like grain) into a fresh substrate so it can start growing. This is the first step in mushroom cultivation - mixing the living culture into its food source to begin colonisation.
Once inoculated, the mycelium spreads through the substrate, digesting it and laying the groundwork for fruiting. When the whole thing is laced with white, it’s fully colonised and ready to fruit.
A flush is a single round of mushroom growth. After the mycelium has fully colonised its substrate, it can produce mushrooms in batches. Some species give one large flush, while others can produce several over time with breaks in between.
A concentrated herbal or fungal extract, made by soaking the raw material in alcohol (and sometimes water too) to draw out the good stuff. Ours are dual extracted for a fuller spectrum of benefits.
An extract that uses both alcohol and hot water. This helps capture different compounds - alcohol is great for triterpenes and alkaloids, while water pulls out polysaccharides like beta-glucans.
Mushrooms that do more than feed us. These are used to support things like energy, focus, immunity or stress response. We don’t make any wild claims, but there’s a long tradition and growing body of research behind their use.
Natural compounds (including some fungi like Cordyceps or Reishi) that may help the body adapt to stress. They don’t push you in one direction, they support balance.
Polysaccharides are long-chain carbohydrates found in mushrooms, especially in their cell walls. Certain types, like beta-glucans, are studied for their potential effects on the immune system. They’re one of the key compounds extracted in water-based tinctures.
One of the most studied polysaccharides in mushrooms. Found in the cell walls of fungi, beta-glucans are linked to immune modulation and are part of what gives functional mushrooms their reputation.
This one’s for the forest lovers. A mycorrhizal fungus forms a mutual partnership with plant roots, helping them absorb water and nutrients while getting sugars in return. It’s the underground web that links trees, fungi, and ecosystems together.
A microorganism (like a fungus or bacteria) that lives inside a plant. Sometimes it’s these hidden helpers doing the heavy lifting when it comes to medicinal properties - like in the case of yew trees and cancer drugs.
Got a term you’ve heard that we haven’t explained here?
Send us a message, drop us a comment, or come find us at the next market.
We’re always happy to chat fungi, whether you’re knee-deep in spawn or just starting to explore the mycological maze.
