THE BRCC NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER NEWS
Fall is here and it’s my absolute favorite time to enjoy the mountains and the mushrooms! This month welcomes some of the best, Lions Mane, Maitake, Honeys, Shrimp of the woods, and Hedgehogs to name a few. The cooler temps, the colors beginning to change and the last few months to get out there and embrace the harvest. My tours go on all month and should be pretty poppin out there, lets hope the rains continue! I have a few special events this month, check out my market section below to learn when and where. I’ve got some really exciting news, read down to the last section of this newsletter to find out!!
As part of my monthly special this month, the first five orders that include a mens or womans tincture blend will receive a free, very limited release Black Trumpet Black Lava Salt! Trumpets are in the chanterelle family of mushrooms and have an excellent flavor and aroma. Their unique taste adds an interesting twist to pretty much any dish. The trumpets are not always to find, however like most mushrooms, once you figure out the pattern and environment, there they are! I found enough this year to make a handful of gourmet salts. The black lava salt adds extra minerals to your dish, while the trumpets add their savory flavor. I only have five, so I’m giving them away…..
Monthly Special
$5 Off Mens and Womans Tincture Blends
First five orders of one or more of the monthly special will receive a very limited release Black Trumpet Black Lava Salt
We offer the Mens Vitality, The Womans Harmonic Bloom and Womans Lunar Cycle Blends.
Mens Vitality Blend :
A carefully balanced blend of adaptogenic herbs and dual‑extract medicinal mushrooms. Designed as a daily foundational tonic for men seeking steady, long‑term vitality — not short‑lived stimulation. This tincture blend contains (alcohol/water extract): Ashwagandha, Hawthorn (berry/leaf/flower), Nettle root, Cordyceps dual extract, Reishi dual extract, Eleuthero root, Saw Palmetto berry, Schisandra berry.
Womans Harmonic Bloom:
A vibrant adaptogenic blend formulated to nourish energy, resilience, and whole-body balance. Harmonic Bloom combines medicinal mushrooms with deeply restorative herbs traditionally used to support stress adaptation, vitality, nervous system nourishment, and overall wellness. Crafted as a daily tonic for those seeking grounded energy, replenishment, and harmony in both body and mind. Proprietary blend tincture (alcohol/water extract): Cordyceps (fruiting bodies), Chaga (fruiting bodies), Tulsi, Shatavari Root, Schisandra Berry, Eleuthero Root, Nettle Leaf, Oatstraw, Burdock Root, Cinnamon Bark,
Womans Lunar Cycle:
A grounding and nourishing botanical blend crafted to support the natural rhythm of the menstrual cycle. Lunar Cycle combines adaptogenic mushrooms with traditional herbs long used to promote hormonal balance, ease monthly discomfort, support emotional wellbeing, and nourish the body through every phase of the cycle. Designed as gentle daily support for women seeking balance, resilience, and deeper connection to their cyclical wellness. Proprietary blend tincture (alcohol/water extract): Reishi (fruiting bodies), Maitake (fruiting bodies), Chasteberry (Vitex), Raspberry leaf, White Peony root, Dong Quai root, Mugwort, Cramp Bark, Ginger root
Women’s Lunar Cycle is a warming and harmonizing formula designed to support the luteal and menstrual phases.
What It Is
A grounding and nourishing botanical blend crafted to support the natural rhythm of the menstrual cycle. Lunar Cycle combines adaptogenic mushrooms with traditional herbs long used to promote hormonal balance, ease monthly discomfort, support emotional wellbeing, and nourish the body through every phase of the cycle. Designed as gentle daily support for women seeking balance, resilience, and deeper connection to their cyclical wellness.
Ingredients
Proprietary blend tincture (alcohol/water extract): Reishi (fruiting bodies), Maitake (fruiting bodies), Chasteberry (Vitex), Raspberry leaf, White Peony root, Dong Quai root, Mugwort, Cramp Bark, Ginger root, Grain Alcohol (49%), Spring Water.
2 oz (60 mL)
Men’s Vitality is a full‑spectrum myco‑herbal tonic crafted to support sustained energy, hormonal balance, cardiovascular function, and resilience to daily stress — rooted in the traditions of folk herbalism and modern mycology.
What It Is
A carefully balanced blend of adaptogenic herbs and dual‑extract medicinal mushrooms. Designed as a daily foundational tonic for men seeking steady, long‑term vitality — not short‑lived stimulation.
Ingredients
Proprietary blend tincture (alcohol/water extract): Ashwagandha, Hawthorn (berry/leaf/flower), Nettle root, Cordyceps dual extract, Reishi dual extract, Eleuthero root, Saw Palmetto berry, Schisandra berry.
Other Ingredients: Grain alcohol, purified water.
2 oz (60 mL)
Women’s Harmonic Bloom is designed as a daily foundational tonic for women seeking balanced energy, emotional steadiness, and long‑term vitality
What It Is
A vibrant adaptogenic blend formulated to nourish energy, resilience, and whole-body balance. Harmonic Bloom combines medicinal mushrooms with deeply restorative herbs traditionally used to support stress adaptation, vitality, nervous system nourishment, and overall wellness. Crafted as a daily tonic for those seeking grounded energy, replenishment, and harmony in both body and mind.
Ingredients
Proprietary blend tincture (alcohol/water extract): Cordyceps (fruiting bodies), Chaga (fruiting bodies), Tulsi, Shatavari Root, Schisandra Berry, Eleuthero Root, Nettle Leaf, Oatstraw, Burdock Root, Cinnamon Bark, Grain Alcohol (51%), Spring Water.
2 oz (60 mL)
September Mushrooms
Fall is offical….almost! Say goodbye to the summer mushrooms, like the chanterelles, as this month will see come and some go. These four mushrooms are defentily some of the highlights you’ll see this month, with many others joining the forest party.
Hedgehogs
These tasty little mushrooms are out now. They resemble a small chanterelle on top but turn them over and you’ll discover they have no gills but tiny teeth. Hedgehogs seem to love pine and can be found among the needles on the ground. Hedgehogs are interesting in the fact that they emerge in spring and then again in fall.
Shrimp of the Woods
Here’s a parasitic fungus that forms in two stages. Pictured here are those stages, aborted entolomas are the small, balled up (look like shrimp), white mushrooms. The nonaborted forms are small gray mushrooms, sometimes with a slight pink hue. Both forms are edible and rather delicious. The shrimp of the woods take over the host Honey mushrooms and are often found together out in the woods.
Honey Mushrooms
The Honey mushrooms just so happens to be the oldest and largest living organism on earth, covering 2,200 acres of forest out in Oregon!! Honeys can be quite prolific and grow in big clusters or groups. We have the Ringed and Ringless Honeys. One has a ring around the stem and other doesn’t. Honey mushrooms have a honey like color and get their name as such. Honey mushrooms strip apart and are white inside, like a string cheese. Usually growing with association with Oaks. They are tasty in the pan but the stems can be rather fibrous.
Lions Mane
Lions Mane is a popular mushroom for many reasons. It’s hard to mistake this one, ty[ically growing on Oaks, it’s color and shape are unmistakable and it’s shaggy, hairy look are like no other. A close relative called ‘bears head’ look very similar but are more branched out inside of a round shape. Lions Mane can taste like seafood and are delicious, some make fake crabcakes that taste like the real thing. Medicinally Lions Mane is great brain food, keeping our brai healthy, improving memory and focus, also helps repair nerve damage, brings uplifting for depression and is good for heart health.
September Markets
Weekly Markets:
Weaverville Tailgate-Wednesdays from 3-6
@60 Lakeshore Drive, Weaverville, NC (every other week)
Yancey County Farmers Market- Saturdays 8:30-12:30
@322 W. Main St. Downtown Burnsville 8/1, 8/15 &8/29
East Asheville Tailgate Market- Fridays from 3-6 @954 Tunnel rd
Specialty Markets
WNCRCC Recovery Rally- Thursday, 9/3 Pack Square downtown Asheville. 2-7
Sassafras Moon Herbal Festival- Sat, 9/19 Erwin, TN 10-5
Worley Farm Second Saturday Market- 9/12 Fairview, Nc 9-2
Fungi Fest- 9/5 Marion Tailgate Market from 9-1
Follow me on Social Media to get the latest updates!
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
Usnea
If you haven’t heard of Usnea, also known as Old Mans Beard, it’s a good time to learn about it! Usnea is a lichen, lichens are a symbiotic partnership between an algae or cyanobacteria and a fungus. Usnea is found, typically is places that exhibit good, clean air quality. I find it most in higher elevations in abundance. Usnea is useful to help heal cuts by wrapping it on a cut. Internally, in tincture form, Usnea is good for helping to heal ling infections, it’s antibiotic properties also help things like strep and staph. Also useful for other infections such as kidney or urinary tract. It can aid in weight loss, heart health and can fight certain cancer cells! The most common use for the average person is fighting off colds. I use it most when I feel something heading my way, like a scratchy throat.
Appalachian Digestive Comfort
Lemon balm, red rooibos, anise hyssop, fennel seed, ginger root, cardamom pod, turkey tail mushroom, marshmallow leaf, lemon balm, caraway seed, orange peel licorice root
This tea was designed, as the title suggests, to aid in our daily digestion. Most recommended for after meals, the soothing herbs and Turkey Tail mushroom, make digestion work a bit smoother.
Usnea Dual Extraction -Wild‑Harvested at High Elevations • Only Collected When Naturally Fallen
Usnea (Usnea spp.) is a lichen found in clean, high‑elevation forests throughout Appalachia. It grows slowly and is highly sensitive to air quality, making it a strong indicator of healthy mountain ecosystems. We harvest Usnea only when it has naturally fallen from branches during storms or seasonal shedding — never from living trees — and only from higher elevations where it grows most abundantly and cleanly.
We work with the whole lichen and use a dual‑extraction process to capture both its water‑soluble polysaccharides and alcohol‑soluble usnic‑acid compounds.
This extract reflects Usnea’s long history in folk herbalism and its deep connection to the Appalachian mountains — a steady, traditional ally for immune and respiratory support.
Ingredients
Usnea dual extract (alcohol/water).
Other Ingredients: Grain alcohol, purified water.
2 oz (60 mL)
Appalachian Digestive Comfort Mushroom + Herbal Tea Blend — Comfort for the gut, calm for the system.
A warm, aromatic herbal tea crafted to ease digestion, reduce bloating, and support gut health—smooth, comforting, and easy to enjoy daily.
Ingredients: Lemon balm, red rooibos, anise hyssop, fennel seed, ginger root, cardamom pod, turkey tail mushroom, marshmallow leaf, lemon balm, caraway seed, orange peel licorice root
Brewing: Daily Cup: 1-2 tablespoon per 8–10 oz hot water. Steep 15-20 minutes, covered After meals (recommended): Brew slightly stronger and sip warm
Net Weight: 1.7 oz (45 grams)
Maitake-Hen of the Woods
Maitake are referred to as the ‘dancing mushroom’, a tradition from Japan, when one is found you dance with joy for the abundance of food and medicine. I keep that tradition myself every year. I have also heard it called ‘sheeps head’ and I can definitely see that in it’s appearance. Whatever you call it, in my opinion it’s the finest of edible wild mushrooms, right along with Morels. They have a nutty flavor and are hardy. Inside that taste and inside those fans (caps) is some amazing medicine. Helping to regulate blood sugar, potential anti cancer activity, helping to manage diabetes, cognitive enhancing effects, neuroprotective (this is why it’s included in the Brain Boost Tincture) and helping our overall heart health.
Showing up as early as late August, the hen of the wood will grow into November on good years. Always found at the base of Oak trees, sometimes even creating a ring around the tree. They are a fun hunt because they blend in perfectly with the leaves and bark on the ground. I was with a friend of mine one year and he pulled a 17lb hen from a stump! They really are an Appalachian fall blessing. I’ll be making tincture and bringing fresh Maitake to the local markets.
New Product
In the works edition
In the last month or two, we’ve been in the research room working on what’s to be our latest product! Seeking our own coffee alternative and listening to our customers at the local markets, the time has come……targeting mid-September for release, I’m super excited to offer a coffee alternative made with Chicory, Dandelion, Carob, Cinnamon, Lions Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, Turkey Tail and Reishi. The goal is to give you that coffee like flavor without the caffeine, instead Lions Mane, Cordyceps and Chaga provide a natural energy, along with Turkey Tail and Reishi adding a medicinal punch.
I have my opinions about all the mushroom coffees on the market and to sum them up, my thoughts boil down to one major factor….where do their mushrooms come from? We wild forage all the mushrooms used in our products, wild mushrooms are certainly the most nutrient dense and contain the highest medicinal compounds, whereas cultivated mushrooms are either manipulated, grow on fillers that lack nutrients and are mass produced in factories or other indoor settings. In short big companies have an endless marketing budget and sell it well! Stay tuned for this one………..