Mushroom grow kit as a New Year gift: who it suits, which one, and how to give it

Why a mushroom kit?

A mushroom kit makes a good gift because the fun starts once it's unwrapped. Most New Year presents are finished that day; a grow kit gets going: first tiny bumps, then a cluster that gets visibly bigger each day, and finally mushrooms in a pan with butter. University of Georgia Extension notes that oyster mushrooms roughly double in size every day at this stage, which is half the fun.

There's a safety side too. Mushrooms from a kit are a known cultivated species, unlike wild mushrooms picked in the woods. For someone curious about foraging, it gives the same thrill without the risk.

Who it suits

• Keen cooks: cooking with mushrooms you grew yourself means the freshest possible ingredient.
• People who kill houseplants: an oyster kit needs no soil, pot or fertiliser, just humidity, light and fresh air.
• Families with children: watching mushrooms grow day by day is a great nature lesson, and kids can be in charge of the misting.
• Offices and teams: a kit on the kitchen counter becomes everyone's project. For branded corporate kits see our corporate gifts page.

Which species?

For a first-timer, oyster mushroom (Pleurotus) kits are the most forgiving; the University of Florida's home-growing guide (UF/IFAS) also uses oyster mushrooms as the place to start. Classic grey oyster is simple and tasty.

For a visual surprise, pink oyster (Pleurotus djamor) or golden oyster are good choices. Their colour fades when cooked, but the moment they burst out of the box is very photogenic. Pink oyster is a tropical species and can be slower in cool rooms, so it suits homes that are kept warm in winter.

Giving a living gift

1. Get the timing right. A kit is alive and made to be started soon, not kept in a box for weeks. Buy it close to the day you'll give it.
2. Protect it in transit. Don't leave it in a freezing car or in the sun.
3. Add a note. Tell the person to start it straight away, to keep it somewhere bright but out of direct sun, and to mist it a few times a day. You could include a link to how to use a mushroom grow kit.
4. Finish it with a recipe. A small recipe card, or a pick from our recipes, shows you thought about the ending too.

Our kits

Our grow kits are currently open for pre-registration. You can see the sizes (small, large and mega) and species on the grow kits page and sign up to hear when they launch. For bulk or branded orders, request a quote on the corporate gifts page.