In this episode, we step inside the Bristol Fungarium for a behind-the-scenes journey into the art and science of growing functional mushrooms.
Founder Tom Baxter leads us through the laboratory, introducing the team of mycologists working at the frontier between nature, cultivation and science. We follow the extraordinary life cycle of fungi—from wild specimens and cultures in the lab, through mycelium, incubation and fruiting, to harvesting, drying and the final extraction of their remarkable compounds.
The Fungarium works with a number of mushrooms cloned from carefully foraged UK-native specimens, including Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Maitake and Oyster. Once cultivated, the team uses analytical chemistry to examine compounds including beta-glucans, ergothioneine and ganoderic acids, before the mushrooms are harvested, dehydrated, ground and extracted under one roof.
Along the way, we discover just how precise mushroom cultivation can be—how temperature, humidity, sterility, substrate and time all play their part—and meet the people who have learned to create the perfect conditions for these strange and beautiful organisms to thrive. Some varieties can spend more than six months developing before they are finally ready to harvest.
From petri dish to fruiting chamber, and from mushroom to tincture, this is a glimpse inside a fascinating world where ancient organisms meet modern science.
Join us for a walk through the Fungarium.
The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.
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