About · Who we are

Fungi have shaped life on Earth for over a billion years.

The Functional Mushroom Company is committed to sourcing medicinal mushrooms of the highest quality from around the world.

TFMC in figures

10,000+

customers

4.8

average rating, from 816 reviews

8

formulas

6

mushroom species

4

contaminant panels on every batch

01

Our ethos

Fungi possess a transformative power that has shaped life on Earth for over a billion years.

They are the grand recyclers, turning rock into soil, breaking down pollutants, and sustaining plants through symbiotic relationships. Their resilience is unmatched, thriving in extreme environments from ocean depths to frozen wastelands. This inherent adaptability and potency underscore their critical role in our ecosystems and their potential for human benefit.

Historically, humans have tapped into the profound biological capabilities of fungi. Ancient practices leveraged their medicinal properties, such as using mould for antibiotics or as traditional remedies. Today, modern medicine continues to rely on fungi for life-saving drugs like penicillin and cyclosporine. Beyond medicine, fungi contribute significantly to food production and industry. Yet despite their widespread utility, the vast majority of fungal species remain unexplored, hinting at a reservoir of untapped potential.

At The Functional Mushroom Company, we are inspired by this deep, elemental power. Our mission is to harness it to enhance human health and capabilities. We select mushrooms known for their therapeutic properties, focusing on those with a rich repository of bioactive compounds. Our brand is a tribute to the profound influence of fungi on our planet and our lives: a commitment to exploring and sharing the benefits of these extraordinary organisms for health and well-being.

Explore the Mushroom Index

Lion’s Mane specimen, measuring callipers and TFMC bottle

02

Backed by research

At the heart of our philosophy is a commitment to evidence.

“Backed by Research” means that each mushroom product we offer is supported by a rigorous scientific framework. This is not a slogan but a foundational principle that guides our product development. We draw on clinical studies and academic papers to ensure that the health claims we make are not just credible but verifiable. Each batch reflects a dedication to quality and efficacy that is measurable and reproducible.

It is this scientific backing that sets us apart in a market often clouded by unsubstantiated claims. We embrace the complexity of mycological research, translating dense academic language into actionable health insights, so our customers can choose their supplements with knowledge and confidence.

See the latest lab results

03

Sourced with integrity

Integrity in sourcing is about environmental responsibility, ethical partnerships and fair labour practices.

Our mushrooms are harvested from pristine ecosystems, where sustainable growth is prioritised to preserve natural resources. This respect for nature extends to our relationships with local foragers and cultivators, who are integral to our supply chain and share our commitment to environmental stewardship.

In our UK operations, we're proud to be a London Living Wage employer, reflecting our commitment to the fair treatment of everyone who contributes to our products. Our transparency goes beyond the quality of our mushrooms: we ensure traceability and provide clear evidence of our sustainable practices. By engaging in fair trade and ensuring fair compensation, we uphold a level of integrity that is fundamental to our ethos. It is not merely a standard but a responsibility we embrace wholeheartedly.

How it's made

A note from the founder

A fungus has no brain and no centre. Nothing in it is in charge.

George Webster, founder of The Functional Mushroom Company — George Webster · Hackney, London

Hold a fresh lion's mane and it feels like suede. Reishi is the opposite: hard and glossy, as if it had been lacquered. Some of these mushrooms look more like sculpture than food.

Britain has long been suspicious of mushrooms. We pick round them, warn children off them and leave them at the edge of the plate. In much of East Asia they have been revered for centuries. I grew up with the British view. What changed it was a much more ordinary problem: six or seven coffees before 3pm, and forums that kept pointing me to lion's mane.

Journalists are trained to verify. You read the document, not the press release. You find a second source and a third, and you ask who benefits. I brought the same approach to mushrooms. I read the trials, noted what the researchers had used and in what amounts, and then went looking for the same thing in the shops. Almost nothing matched, and nobody is required to prove what is in a mushroom supplement before it goes on sale.

Along the way, the mushrooms themselves became the reason I kept reading. A fungus has no brain and no centre. Nothing in it is in charge, and yet it finds food, shares it across the network and repairs itself when it's cut. I still find that astonishing.

That investigative habit is how The Functional Mushroom Company works. We start from the research, verify what goes into everything we make and say no more than the evidence supports. I'm George Webster. Before founding the company I was an executive editor at CNN International and the founding editor of CNN Style.

George Webster, Founder