ESSENTIAL NOTES ON ‘GREAT MUSHROOM OF THE SUN’
The Sun Mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill) contains a range of naturally occurring compounds, notably beta-glucans (polysaccharides) and minerals such as zinc. Its composition has made it the subject of ongoing scientific research.
Its consumption in Brazil
The mushroom was discovered in the mountainous Atlantic Forest region of the state of São Paulo (Brazil), and researchers then began to study its composition. Following this early research, consumption of the mushroom grew worldwide and its cultivation expanded.
CULINARY USE AND EXTRACTS
Like species such as Reishi and Lion's Mane, the Sun Mushroom has become part of the human diet. It can be eaten like button mushrooms or saffron milk caps. Its flesh is white and slightly fibrous, and in the kitchen it stands out for its almond-like aroma and flavour, which is why it is also known as the ‘almond mushroom’.
Extracts
An extract is the most concentrated form of the compounds found in the Sun Mushroom. It is available in capsules, on its own in Mico-Sol or combined with other mushrooms in Mico-Five, and in liquid form in Dr. Immune Five. Extracts can be obtained using sustainable technologies designed not to denature their compounds.
Products with sun mushroom
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TRENDINGHasta - 10 %Dr. Immune Five Syrup (Reishi, Agaricus, Oyster, Chaga, Shiitake)
KIDS' SYRUP WITH VITAMINS C & D
From £29.00( £11.6 / 100 ml )Unit price /Unavailable -
BESTSELLERSHasta - 10 %Mico Five (Chaga, Reishi, Maitake, Shiitake, Sun mushroom) Capsules
FIVE-MUSHROOM BLEND + VITAMIN C
From £54.00( £0.9 / Capsule )Unit price /Unavailable -
Mico Sol (Agaricus blazei) extract capsules
PURE SUN MUSHROOM EXTRACT
£65.00( £0.93 / Capsule )Unit price /Unavailable
SUN MUSHROOM CULTIVATION
Agaricus blazei, like other species of the genus Agaricus, can be grown on decomposing herbaceous substrates or on artificial substrates made from plant residues, animal manure and other minerals, which are then pasteurised or sterilised. However, when production is focused on sustainability and care for the ecosystem, more sophisticated systems are used, with controlled environments and organic substrates.
Featured Biomolecules
This species contains active biomolecules, including:
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Habitat and distribution
Habitat and distribution
This fungus grows as a saprophyte (an organism that feeds on decomposing organic material), colonising the nutrient-rich organic soil of forest floors. In its natural habitat, average temperatures hover around 25°C, where seasonal rainfall creates a warm, humid microclimate. Ideal growth requires these specific warm and moist conditions characteristic of its native region in Brazil, where ambient temperatures range from daytime highs of 35°C to nighttime lows of 22°C. It is also native to sub-tropical regions in the south-eastern United States, such as Florida and Louisiana.
Since the 1980s, cultivation of this species has expanded into other geographical regions utilising specialized growing protocols tailored to specific production goals. Today, the Sun Mushroom holds significant commercial importance globally, with cultivation established across the Americas, Asia, and select European centers.
Mycological notes
Mycological notes
The taxonomic history of the Sun Mushroom is rich and complex. In 1893, the species was first described scientifically in the United States by Charles Horton Peck as Agaricus subrufescens. Decades later, in 1947, the American mycologist Dr. William Alphonso Murrill redescribed the species under the name Agaricus blazei. Concurrently, the mushroom was widely known in South America as the "almond mushroom" of Brazil (Agaricus brasiliensis), though it was initially believed that these represented three distinct species.
Detailed genetic sequencing and comparative studies conducted in 2002 by researchers Wasser, Didukh, and Kerrigan demonstrated that these taxa are scientifically identical. While Agaricus subrufescens Peck remains the oldest valid taxonomic name, Agaricus blazei Murrill remains widely recognized across industry and research contexts.
Interestingly, commercial cultivation of the Brazilian strain was first pioneered by a Japanese mycologist residing in Brazil during the 1960s, paving the way for its widespread cultivation across Asia from the 1980s onward. Visually, Agaricus subrufescens produces a fleshy fruiting body with a cap reaching up to 12 cm in diameter, characterized by a golden-brown cuticle, a convex shape, and dark brown gills.
Cultivation in bioreactors
Cultivation in bioreactors
Quality, Purity, and Consistency in Our Production Systems
Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our strict quality assurance standards, ensuring purity and consistent quality across our products.
R&D and Sun Mushroom Studies
R&D and Sun Mushroom Studies
- Hifas da Terra carries out studies to improve its mushroom production processes and to develop new biotechnology-based ingredients.
- In its extensive strain collection (Hifas Mycological Bank), Hifas da Terra keeps its own strains isolated in the Iberian Peninsula, which it selects to develop its formulas.
- Hifas da Terra carries out studies in collaboration with research centres and universities.
Curiosities
Curiosities
- Unlike other species that prefer partial shade, the Sun Mushroom can grow in direct sunlight.