UK | After shiitake and oyster, get ready for what looks set to be the next big trend in mushrooms - the Lion’s Mane variety.
The vegetable, which has a unique, fluffy, white appearance, is already hugely popular as a functional mushroom health supplement in powder form.
This category is currently experiencing volume growth, and Tesco, which believes it could be the next thing to excite the gourmet food market, will be selling the exotic mushroom.
“In the last few years, demand for exotic mushrooms, like shiitake and particularly oyster, has soared, so we’re really excited to be able to offer the next big trend to our customers,” said Tesco mushroom buyer Bobbie Fletcher.
“We know how popular Lion’s Mane has become recently as a functional mushroom in powder form sold in pharmacies, but think the actual vegetable itself could now join shiitake and oyster as a culinary favourite.”
He added that Lion’s Mane has been hailed for their great taste and offers a unique flavour profile, with a mildly sweeter taste than regular mushrooms and a tender texture.
The mushroom gets its name from its flowing tendrils, which resemble a lion’s shaggy mane. It has a tender but slightly firm texture, making it a versatile meat alternative in plant-based recipes.
Grower Smithy Mushrooms, of Ormskirk, Lancashire, which has supplied Tesco for more than 30 years, also has high hopes for the mushroom after seeing how popular it has become in America.
John Dorrian, the company’s managing director, stated that the world of mushrooms has completely opened up due to the plant-based revolution of recent years.
Due to high demand, the company opened a second growing site in 2023, doubling its capacity as a result of new business from retailers and the catering trade.
This investment includes brand-new facilities for producing its own substrate and spawn, ensuring complete control over quality and consistency throughout the entire cultivation process.
“The world of culinary mushrooms has exploded in the last few years, especially with the plant-based food revolution, and particularly because of oyster mushrooms. They offer plant-based food fans a wonderful tasting alternative to meat that is a centrepiece in its own right rather than a side dish,” said Dorrian.
“Now we think Lion’s Mane could replicate what the Oyster variety has achieved, especially for those seeking a tender, juicy and slightly savoury taste that is grown in the UK. This is a very exciting time for mushroom lovers, and with our new facility, we’re not only enhancing our existing range but also laying the foundation to introduce a host of new varieties in the near future.”
Lion’s Mane mushrooms are available in Tesco stores across the UK.
