Organic Black Pearl Grain Spawn
- 🍄 MYCELIUM ON BLACK PEARL SPORES: A unique variety, a cross between the classic oyster mushroom and the king oyster mushroom.
- 🌱 PRODUCTIVE AND CONSISTENT: Good yield, with generally abundant harvests over several flushes.
- 💪 ROBUST AND EASY TO GROW: Vigorous mycelium, suitable for both beginners and more experienced growers.
- 🍽️ UMAMI FLAVOR AND FIRM TEXTURE: A mushroom prized for its denser texture compared to a standard oyster mushroom.
- 🌍 LOCALLY GROWN AND ORGANIC: Certified BE-BIO-01 by Certisys.
How to grow your Black Pearl
Black Pearl Oyster Mushroom – Black King / Shimofuri Hiratake
The Black Pearl oyster mushroom is a unique variety, a cross between the classic oyster mushroom and the king oyster mushroom. It has a pleasant texture, high yields, and is easier to cultivate than the king oyster mushroom.
Its rounded, striped caps, ranging from light to dark brown, give it a very distinctive appearance. It is prized for its umami flavor and its firmer texture compared to many standard oyster mushrooms.
A bit of an oddity in the world of mushrooms, this variety gained popularity first in Japan and then in North America. It offers an excellent compromise between oyster mushrooms and king oyster mushrooms.
Black Pearl mushrooms have a wider stem than standard oyster mushrooms, but are less dense than king oyster mushrooms. They typically grow in clusters and are easier to cultivate than king oyster mushrooms.
Their flavor is similar to that of oyster mushrooms, with a more pronounced umami note. This variety is appealing to both hobbyist growers and commercial producers looking for a unique and high-yielding mushroom.
🔬 This is mycelium on grains, intended for making your own growing media.
Black Pearl generally requires a cool phase to properly initiate fruiting, around 10 to 15°C, followed by fruiting 10 and 20°C.
❄️ Storing the mycelium: Store in the refrigerator, ideally between 1 and 4°C.
For best results, use it within one month of receipt.
👉 See also: How to use our mycelium
Our Commitment to Quality
We produce our mycelium under laboratory conditions to ensure varietal purity and optimal quality.
Our mycelia are organically produced and certified BE-BIO-01 by Certisys under the Belgian Organic Agriculture program.
🌱 Growing conditions
The Black Pearl is generally easier to grow than the eryngii, particularly because it is less susceptible to bacterial contamination. However, it is still best to provide it with a clean, well-prepared substrate and fruiting conditions.
To grow beautiful mushrooms, make sure to maintain good humidity, provide regular ventilation, and keep the temperature on the cooler side during the initial growth stage.
Tip from La Mycosphère: A cool phase at 10–15°C helps trigger fruiting consistent fruiting . During growth, maintain high humidity without wetting the mushrooms directly.
🛠️ Recommended growing media
Black Pearl mushrooms are typically grown on enriched sawdust.
For simple, consistent results, we recommend our ready-to-use growing medium, which is particularly well-suited for wood-decaying varieties.
📊 Growing conditions
Inoculation: 5 to 10% grain mycelium relative to the weight of the moist substrate.
| Phase | Temperature | Humidity | Duration | CO₂ | Fresh air | Light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incubation | 20–24°C | 90–95% | 20–40 days | 5,000–20,000 ppm | 0–1 volume per hour | - |
| Formation of primordial cells | 10–15°C | 95–100% | 5–10 days | 500–1,000 ppm | 4 to 8 cubic feet per hour | 500–1,000 lux |
| fruiting | 10–20°C, ideally around 15°C | 85–95% | 4–8 days | 500–1,000 ppm | 4 to 8 cubic feet per hour | 500–1,000 lux |
📚 Estimated data from *Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms* by Paul Stamets. Results may vary depending on the strain, substrate, humidity, ventilation, and growing conditions.
📈 Productivity
On average, use 200 to 300 grams of fresh mushrooms per kilogram of moist substrate, yielding approximately three harvests, depending on the substrate and growing conditions.
FAQ – Black Pearl Oyster Mushroom
How does it differ from the eryngii mushroom?
The Black Pearl has a medium texture: firmer than a standard oyster mushroom, but less dense than an eryngii. It is also generally easier to grow than the eryngii.
Is this an easy variety?
Yes, it’s a fairly easy-to-grow variety. It’s more tolerant of environmental fluctuations and contamination than the eryngii, while still producing a unique and high-yielding mushroom.
Which growing medium should you choose?
Enriched sawdust or pasteurized straw work well. Ready-to-use substrate for wood-eating species is particularly suitable.
What temperature is needed for fruiting?
Ideally, aim for a fresh incubation period at around 10–15°C, followed by fruiting 10–20°C.
What inoculation rate should be used?
We generally recommend using 5 to 10% grain mycelium relative to the weight of the moist substrate.
Customer Reviews
It's growing very quickly, and the mycelium is in great shape. Thank you
not yet sprouting
High-quality mycelium.
Produced a beautiful first flush beech pellets (I’m waiting for the second one, but I’m not sure if it’ll work…).
The taste and texture are truly incredible!
Personally, I prefer these to gray oyster mushrooms.
Thanks, and see you soon.
Reviews in Other Languages
Excellent taste and yield. 1.5 kg per 5 kg bag.
