Check out a few great last minute “mushroom” inspired gift ideas in the CSA Shop this week – grow kits, cookie mixes, and soup starters! Other gift ideas could be any of our Epic Fine Chocolates still in stock, a great bag of locally roasted CSA coffee, or maybe a tin or two of Mano Y Metate moles. Find out more below and ask us for more ideas in the shop this week!

DESERT PEARL MUSHROOMS

MUSHROOM SOUP STARTER KIT

A rich, fragrant mushroom broth — in minutes.

Our Mushroom Soup Starter Kit is your shortcut to a deeply flavorful, comfort-forward soup made from whole dried mushrooms and our house-crafted spice blend. Each kit includes:

• Two 1-oz packs of premium dried mushrooms
• Four small-batch spice packets featuring sea salt, paprika, purple shallot, lemon pepper, garlic, turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, and more

Just steep in boiling water to create a rich, aromatic broth that tastes like it simmered all afternoon — perfect as a soup base or as the foundation for noodles, grains, vegetables, and proteins.

No additives. No shortcuts. Just clean, concentrated mushroom flavor.

Why Customers Love It

• Fast, deeply flavorful broth
• Shelf-stable and travel-friendly
• Makes incredible ramen, risotto, gravy, or sipping broth
• Uses the same premium mushrooms we grow for Tucson restaurants
• Endless variations: Level up your soup using our recipe ideas online

How to Use

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Add one mushroom pack + one spice packet (four servings per kit).
3. Steep until fully rehydrated and aromatic.
4. Enjoy as broth or build into your favorite dish.
5. For fancier, restaurant-worthy soups: Scan the QR code on the package or visit
   desertmushroom.com/recipes-and-tips

A Little Insider Tip

Most customers grab two — one for weeknight cooking and another to keep on hand “just in case.”

DESERT PEARL MUSHROOMS

WISH YOU WERE BAKED

Functional Mushroom Cookie Mix

A cookie that treats your brain as kindly as it treats your sweet tooth.

Wish You Were Baked is our small-batch functional mushroom cookie mix crafted with a trio of farm-grown mushroom powders to support clarity, balance, and everyday wellness — all wrapped in a delicious, chewy cookie that tastes like pure comfort.

Each bag includes our blend of:

• Lion’s Mane — for focus, clarity, and cognitive support
• Chaga — for earthy richness and antioxidant balance
• Oyster Mushroom — for added micronutrients and digestive friendliness

Just add a few simple ingredients, bake, and enjoy cookies that feel indulgent but offer a gentle, functional boost without caffeine or compromise.

No fillers. No artificial flavors. Just thoughtfully blended mushrooms and a cookie mix that actually tastes amazing.

Why Customers Love It

• A delicious way to enjoy the benefits of functional mushrooms
• No caffeine, no jitters — just smooth, steady support
• Perfect base for chocolate chips, nuts, fruit, or spices
• Kid-friendly, adult-approved
• Great for gifting or sharing (if you don’t eat them first)

How to Use

1. Preheat your oven.
2. In a bowl, combine the dry mix with egg, butter, and milk (or your favorite vegan equivalents).
3. Stir until a soft dough forms.
4. Fold in chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, or spices if desired.
5. Scoop onto a baking sheet and bake until golden and irresistible.
6. Try not to eat them all at once.

A Little Insider Tip

Once people taste these cookies, they usually grab an extra bag — one to bake now, and one to rediscover on a busy week.

DESERT PEARL MUSHROOMS

BLUE OYSTER MUSHROOM HOME GROW KIT

Grow your own gourmet mushrooms — right on your countertop.

Our Blue Oyster Home Grow Kit is designed to make mushroom growing simple, fun, and surprisingly fast. This is the very same strain we grow for Tucson’s top restaurants — now packaged so you can harvest fresh mushrooms at home.

Each kit includes:

• A fully colonized 5–6 lb substrate block
• A simple spray mister
• Clear, beginner-friendly instructions

Just open the box, cut the block, mist daily, and watch in real time as beautiful blue oyster mushrooms begin to form. Your first flush typically appears in 7–14 days, with potential for additional harvests depending on care and conditions.

No garden bed. No fancy equipment. Just fresh, gourmet mushrooms grown by you.

Why Customers Love It

• Beginner-friendly and great for kids, families, and food lovers
• Fast-growing with dramatic visual results
• Produces large, flavorful mushroom clusters
• A fun indoor project that doubles as fresh food
• Makes an excellent gift (and pairs perfectly with our Soup Starter Kit)

How to Use

1. Open the box and follow the simple cut instructions on the grow block.
2. Place the block in a clean area with indirect light.
3. Use the included mister to spray the opening 1–2 times daily.
4. Watch pins form and mushrooms develop over the next several days.
5. Harvest when caps just begin to unfurl.
6. Use in sautés, soups, pastas, stir-fries, and more.

A Little Insider Tip

Most customers who grow one end up coming back for another — or grabbing a few as gifts after seeing how impressive the results are.