The best mushroom gifts for Christmas 2024: 13 fun fungi present ideas

Whether you forage them, cook with them, or simply like to look at them, receiving the best mushroom gifts at Christmas time is a magical thing. Mushrooms, for many, take the top spot in the vegetable world. Their enchanting and fascinating nature makes them a firm favourite, so it's no surprise there's an abundance of mushroom-themed gifts cropping up on the shelves, ready for picking.

So to help you find the perfect mushroom gift for a loved one, we've compiled a list of practical, unique and quite adorable finds. We've included mushroom foraging kit, identification books, literature, and notebooks, so there's something for all kinds of mushroom fanatics.

Take a browse, and treat your friends and family to a mushroom gift they'll love. For more gift roundups, take a look at the best gifts for walkers and gift ideas for bird lovers.

Best mushroom gifts for 2024

Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools

Best overall mushroom gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13090718

A mushroom identification book is a lovely way to help those keen to expand their knowledge and learn about the different mushroom species they may stumble across on a woodland stroll. This guide from Collins focuses on mushrooms found in Britain and Ireland and delves into size, shape and colour. It's illustrated too for quick and effortless identification.

This one is a solid all-rounder, and a great option for newbies to the field as the book lists mushrooms you're most likely to see. With over 1,500 illustrations, there are plenty of species to tick off. Read our full list of mushroom identification books here.

SQUIRREL_13090718

Red Hamper Wicker Garden Trug

Best mushroom gardening gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13148969

Of course a mushroom forager needs a charming basket for the giant puffballs, chanterelles and beefsteaks they gather. We love this classic design from Red Hamper. Handmade from willow, the traditional and rustic design is sure to go down well.

As well as functioning as a trusty trug for mushroom pickers, this basket would work well for gardeners too - ideal for carrying tools and fresh garden produce from garden to kitchen. Discover the best foraging courses in the UK here.

SQUIRREL_13148969

Forage Bag for Morels Picking

Best foraging mushroom gift

If you're in need of a mushroom gift for a serious mushroom hunter, this bag has been designed with the forager in mind. Made with a water-repellent material and durable mesh, this airy bag is ideal for carrying mushrooms, particularly morels.

There's a separate pocket for your valuables, so you can keep them free of forest muck, and the over-the-shoulder strap lets you forage hands free. When you're not foraging, this design would make a handy green grocer bag as you can carry your loose veg and cut down on plastic packaging. Take a look at the best reusable products for your home for more eco-friendly alternatives.

Buy now: from Etsy (£58.93)

Opinel Mushroom Knife

Best practical mushroom gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13097378

Another solid mushroom gift idea for mushroom pickers. This specialised mushroom knife from Opinel features a curved stainless steel blade for easy picking. There's even a small brush so you can remove the soil from your mushrooms post pick for a more thorough investigation.

SQUIRREL_13097378

Mushrooms: Deeply Delicious Recipes, from Soups and Salads to Pasta and Pies

Best mushroom recipe book gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13122553

We've all got our favourite mushroom dishes, whether it's a weeknight omelette, garlicky and buttery mushrooms on toast or perhaps a hearty mushroom pie. So why not treat the foodies in your life to a recipe book dedicated to the earthy and versatile vegetable?

Written by food writer Jenny Linford, Mushrooms includes salads, stews, sharing plates and meat dishes so there's something for all preferences. Pesto-ricotta-stuffed mushrooms, shiitake dumplings and truffle mushroom crostini are just a few of the tempting recipes in Linford's collection.

SQUIRREL_13122553

Cream Mushroom Crushed Velvet Blanket

Best living-room decor mushroom gift

Buy now: from Etsy (£62.79)

You'll likely spot a number of mushroom-themed home décor pieces for those who enjoy an eclectic feel about the home. This beautiful Etsy velvet throw, decorated with colourful mushrooms, would make a gorgeous gift.

Buy now: from Etsy (£62.79)

Ulster Weavers 'Mushrooms' Floral 100% Cotton Tea Towel

Best kitchen-decor mushroom gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13149507

Having a vibrant and eye-catching tea towel hanging over your oven is an easy way to add a splash of colour to your kitchen. We love the warm colours of this toadstool tea towel. This mushroom gift would make a nice picnic hamper addition too - cover your salad bowls and clean up crumbs with ease.

SQUIRREL_13149507

Mushrooms Fair Trade Canvas Tote Bag

Best mushroom stocking-filler

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13107228

You'll find over 20 colourful mushroom species on this canvas tote bag. It's always useful to have a tote bag by the door for quick nips to the shops, and you can never really have too many, making it an easy gift idea.

SQUIRREL_13107228

Mushroom Enamel Mug

Best mushroom mug gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13149545

A great mushroom gift for those who love an alfresco cuppa. Enamel mugs - thanks to their hardy nature - are ideal for camping trips, picnics in the park and garden cuppas. The quirky mushroom illustrations make for a delightful design. You'll spot chanterelles, oysters, scarlet elf caps and inky caps among others.

Opt for the cute lid too for a toasty brew. Find more camping mugs in our round-up of the best lightweight and collapsible options.

SQUIRREL_13149545

Mushroom Print A5 Notebook

Best personalised mushroom gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13149509

This mushroom gift is sure to be a hit with your organised friends who love ticking off a to-do list. The contrast of the black and white works well, and you can personalise the design with the recipient's name and a notepad title, making it an extra special notepad a friend is sure to treasure.

SQUIRREL_13149509

Entangled Life : How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures

Best mushroom book gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13107230

Did you know that there is a type of mushroom that hunts nematodes using a paralysing toxin and a spear-like action? After reading Merlin Sheldrake's Entangled Life, you will never look at mushrooms the same way again. The book has proven incredibly popular, winning both the Society Science Book Prize and Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing in 2021. Prepare to have your mind blown. A fantastic gift for nature book fans, and of course an obvious pick for mushroom enthusiasts.

• Find out more about Entangled Life in our Best nature and wildlife books review.

SQUIRREL_13107230

Urban Farm-It XL Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit

Best grow-your-own mushroom gift

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13097376

A mushroom-growing kit is a thoughtful gift for those without a garden as it's an easy way to grow your own veg in the house. We're a bit spoilt for choice when it comes to mushroom growing kits these days, so you can be a bit picky and choose your favourite variety. This is an XL oyster mushroom kit, so expect large pink floral-shaped mushrooms that are beautiful in appearance as well as taste.

The first batch could be ready in just three weeks, so you shouldn't have to wait too long before you can tuck in. Delicious simply fried in butter.

SQUIRREL_13097376

Streamline Imagined Mini Faux Succulent in Mushroom Planter

Best mushroom gift for non-gardeners

SQUIRREL_TEXT_13149511

Some of us love plants, but don't have the knack for keeping them alive. Treat a botanical-obsessed family member to this delightful mushroom planter, with faux succulents inside . Perfect for cluttered eclectic book shelves and sunny windowsills.

SQUIRREL_13149511

If you're interested in adopting a sustainable approach to gift-giving this year, discover inspiring ideas in our guide to the best reusable wrapping paper.