Tawaka MycoLogic

Tawaka, also known as Poplar Mushroom (Cyclocybe parasitica) is a native New Zealand mushroom species which has a delicious savoury flavour and firm meaty texture.

These mushrooms will fruit naturally outdoors when conditions are suitable (a couple of days or more of rain / drizzle in a row).

Tawaka will grow on a wide range of wood types. Their preference is for deciduous softwoods like poplar and willow, but they will also grow on many other kinds of wood including native woods.

This species is classified as semi-parasitic. It can live on living tree hosts and they will eventually die as a result. However, they tend to only grow on trees which are pre-weakend and lacking in health and vigor. This is a part of the natural cycle of the ecosystem - being native to New Zealand, the ecosystem has evolved along side them and is adapted to their presence.

Inoculating logs with dowels and placing them outdoors is the easiest way to grow these mushrooms. For a quicker turnaround, s...