You may have been seeing an increase in popularity in medicinal mushrooms lately. From teas to supplements, or a tasty addition to a meal, all claim to have beneficial properties for your body and brain. Lion’s Mane, for example, exhibits disease-fighting properties as well as nerve protection from disease and decline. It has been used as a natural remedy for centuries across the globe, and, since 2022, it has been grown on a Welsh family farm in North Wales.
Gareth Griffith-Swain, founder of Fungi Foods, began his mushroom growing journey after his Taid’s sheep farm was handed down to his parents. Based in Waunfawr, Gareth saw an opportunity to diversify, and having a keen interest in Mycology, decided to start growing exotic mushrooms.
“I started on a proper shoestring budget,” He says, “In the beginning I was selling a kilo of mushrooms here and there to restaurants and cafes in Caernarfon, and just built up the business from there.”
With two sites, one in Waunfawr and one in Chwilog just outside Pwllheli, this business is introducing a whole new world of fungi to the UK.
Locally and sustainably grown, Fungi Foods, unlike other mainstream mushroom growers, focus on exotic fungi. Predominantly growing the distinctive Lion’s Mane, as well as some more recognisable names such as Shiitake and Oyster, Gareth says “We don’t focus on the traditional mushrooms you’d find in supermarkets. I always like to say - the weirder the better! We like to focus on the more obscure strains”
Not only is Lion’s Mane striking to look at, it can also help with a variety of ailments.
A recent article in Forbes [titled “Health Benefits Of Lion’s Mane”] discusses the Lion’s Mane mushroom exhibits disease-fighting properties. As well as nerve protection from disease and decline, it has been proven to regulate blood sugar, reduce high blood pressure and support heart health amongst a further list of benefits.
There are also further studies being conducted that explore Lion’s Mane mushrooms being used as potential alternatives to treat depression, as well as anxiety and stress.
Whether you take it as a supplement, as an ingredient in a dish, or brewed as a tea, there are many different ways to consume Lion’s Mane.
“I can see the potential that mushrooms have”, says Gareth, “I can see we’re only scratching the surface in the UK, which is why it was an easy decision to start the business.”
Growing exotic mushrooms is not without its challenges, however, and Gareth has reached out to programmes such as Cywain, a food & drink business advisory service funded by the Welsh Government, to help.
“One of the biggest challenges with exotic mushrooms is access, as they have a very short shelf life. We needed to find a way of making the mushrooms more accessible. I approached Louise (McNutt) my Regional Growth Manager from Cywain with the concept of marketing and selling the mushrooms. We were put in touch with a design company through Cywain, who then went on to create our branding and packaging.
“This introduction of drying the crop has really helped in making the mushrooms more accessible to customers who may not know how to use them initially.”
The change in packaging has also meant that Fungi Foods could increase the shelf life of the mushrooms, and subsequently get more opportunities to get the product out there.
“It’s been crucial.” says Gareth, “It’s what we pitched to Aldi, it’s what we went to the Blas Cymru trade event with, and so it’s been massively useful. Sometimes you just need someone to help you get over the line, and that’s what the help with the branding did for Fungi Foods.”
Following his trip to the Blas Cymru trade event at the end of 2023, where Fungi Foods was chosen as a Rising Star and given front-row access to some of the UK’s biggest buyers, the business struck a deal with upscale department store Selfridges.
“I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the event, but I was honoured to be there, alongside some other great producers. It was great to chat with like minded people, who all seemingly have the same obstacles and worries. And of course, getting into Selfridges was an amazing outcome!”
As well as Selfridges, you may have recently spotted Gareth on Channel 4’s Aldi’s Next Big Thing, showcasing his unique products. He went on to win, beating 100s of other hopefuls, and from 8th May this year the dried Lion’s Mane has been proudly sitting on shelves in 1000 Aldi stores across the country.
“It’s pretty surreal to go from something really small, supplying a couple of restaurants in Caernarfon, to supplying a thousand stores!” He says, “It’s a lot of hard work, but it gives you that validation, that what you’re doing is right, and that’s a really good feeling.”
As with any business, it can be a tricky thing to navigate when you’re starting out.
“Another way the Welsh Government programme Cywain has helped me is through its network of experts,” says Gareth, “When you’re starting out, you get asked a lot of questions, with things like wholesale, deliveries, shelf life… It’s just a comfort to know you have someone in your corner helping you out, who has experience with retailers.”
Relationships and support systems are of utmost importance when it comes to running a business, especially during busy periods.
Louise McNutt, Regional Growth Manager in Gareth’s area, says “It’s been great to see that Gareth’s willingness to push the business forward, to put the work in and try new
and ambitious things is paying off.”
“He meets challenges head on and has overcome the inevitable stumbling blocks that startups can face by being open minded, creative and focusing on whichever tasks need to be met. Despite running a rapidly expanding business, Gareth always has time for a chat and it really is a pleasure to work with him.
“I’m excited to see the Fungi Foods range expanding and reaching new markets. It’s especially satisfying to see a healthy, functional, UPF product being so well received - if you haven’t tried the dried Lion’s Mane yet, you’re missing out!”
Once the dust settles after the influx of orders for Aldi, Gareth has plans to expand the range. “Everything has happened all at once, and of course I’m grateful, but now I’m hoping to take a step back and have a look at the direction we want to go in.”
“I am super grateful to the Cywain programme and Louise. There’s a real sense of care there - they genuinely care about your business and want you to do well.”
As well as the aforementioned places, you can also buy Fungi Foods on their website https://www.fungifoods.co.uk/
If you or someone you know is looking for support for their food and drink businesses in Wales, visit Cywain.Cymru
Intrigued? Here are some examples of ways to enjoy Lion’s Mane:
Lion’s Mane Tea: This is the traditional method of consuming the mushroom, and an excellent way to extract its nutrients. Simply steep dried or fresh Lion’s Mane in hot water for around 20 minutes, and either enjoy it plain or add some honey, lemon or ginger for extra flavour!
Fresh or Dried: These forms are great for sauteing, roasting, or grilling. The texture is often described as “meaty” or seafood-like, making them perfect for vegetarian or vegan dishes like stir-fries, pastas, or risottos. You can even try making “crab” cakes with them!
Supplements: For convenience, Lion’s Mane can be prepared into powder, capsule or liquid form supplements, to easily incorporate into your daily routine. You can also mix the powder into coffee, smoothies, or soups.
Lion’s Mane ‘crab’ Cakes
The delicate buttery taste of lion’s mane mushroom makes it a perfect substitute for crab. Follow our Fungi Food recipe to make these delicious mushroomy delights!
Ingredients
200g Fresh Lion’s mane mushroom or 20g of Dried Lion’s Mane
Fresh Lemon
Parsley
Panko Bread Crumbs
Golden Bread Crumbs
1 Egg or Egg Replacer equivalent if vegan
3 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon white vinegar
2 tablespoons mayo (or vegan equivalent)
1 red onion
1 Lemon
Parsley
Method
Preheat your oven at 150*.
If using dried Lion’s Mane then rehydrate as instructed on back of pack.
Grab your lion’s mane and tear it up with you hands - follow the fibres of the mushrooms and it will pull apart easily. Keep the pieces small, no bigger the garlic cloves.
Add the lions mane into a bowl with a table spoon of olive oil and mix with your hands - you just want a light coating of oil as these mushrooms will soak it up.
Transfer the mushrooms onto a tray and place in the oven for 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the mushrooms giving a shake half way through to ensure even cooking.
While the mushrooms are cooking, mix together egg, soy sauce, vinegar, mayo and mix.Add the lions mane red onion, paprika, bread crumbs and squeeze half a lemon with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Once the ingredients are thoroughly mixed - form into small balls and then flatten into smallish cakes.
Add olive oil to a pan on a medium heat and fry crab cakes on 3 mins each side until golden.
Enjoy!
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