23-07-2025
Oxfordshire farm pioneers mushrooms grown from coffee grounds
What are thought to be the first gourmet mushrooms grown from coffee grounds have been Mane and King Oyster blue-grey, golden, and pink mushrooms have been grown on a surface created from sawdust and recycled coffee grounds from the 440,000 cups of coffee sold every year at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, running at full capacity, the farm based in Combe, will be selling 100kg of its produce through local farmers' markets and non-profit group 15kg will be sent each week to the palace kitchens.
The farm consists of three units for preparation of the substrate and inoculation with mushroom spawn, incubation and harvested, the spent substrate from the mushroom growing is converted to a a charcoal-like compost in the palace's walled garden. The compost is used to grow produce and the cycle begins again.
The farm is the latest stage in the Country Estate Carbon Demonstrator Project, Blenheim's collaboration with bioeconomy company Tumblebug. The project unlocks the value of Blenheim's organic waste, such as food, coffee and sheep Cox, managing director for estates at Blenheim Palace, said it was "incredible" to see mushrooms grown using its own organic waste."The mushroom harvest is the final piece of the puzzle, which completes this self-sustaining circular ecosystem," he received a five-star food safety hygiene rating from West Oxfordshire District Council.
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