Shiitake Mushroom Farm Experience

About the Shiitake Mushroom Farm Tour Near Lisbon

An hour and a half from Lisbon, in the countryside of Torres Novas, Manuel and the Lopes family run one of Portugal’s few certified organic shiitake mushroom farms. Their production follows Naturalfa standards from start to finish — from the substrate and inoculation through to harvest — and they welcome visitors who want to see and understand every step of the process. On this 2-hour tour you participate in the inoculation process, harvest shiitake mushrooms by hand from the logs, and finish with a farm tasting session featuring the mushrooms you just picked. Guests consistently describe the depth of Manuel’s knowledge and the warmth of the family’s welcome as the highlights of their visit. Children under 10 join free. Groups from 2 to 100.

Itinerary

• Arrival at the Lopes family farm in Torres Novas. Welcome from Manuel and introduction to the farm, its certification, and the story behind their approach to organic shiitake cultivation
• Mushroom science — learn how shiitake mushrooms grow, what substrates are used (oak or eucalyptus logs), and why this method produces mushrooms of exceptional quality compared to industrial cultivation
• Inoculation workshop — participate in inserting mushroom spores into the logs. Understand the temperature, humidity, and timing conditions that determine a successful crop
• Farm walk — visit the growing area, observe shiitake mushrooms at different stages of development, and learn how Manuel monitors and manages seasonal production cycles
• Harvest — pick fresh shiitake mushrooms by hand directly from the logs. Each guest takes home a box of what they harvested
• Farm tasting — taste freshly harvested shiitake mushrooms prepared on the farm as part of the experience
• Q&A and departure — open time with Manuel to ask questions, explore the farm, and purchase additional farm products if available.

What’s Included

• Guided visit to a certified organic shiitake mushroom farm
• Full explanation of the cultivation process from inoculation to harvest
• Hands-on participation in the inoculation process – Hands-on mushroom harvesting
• Farm tasting session featuring freshly harvested shiitake mushrooms
• Box of freshly picked shiitake mushrooms to take home (subject to availability)
• Direct contact with the Lopes family producers

Highlights

You Learn by Doing — Every Step of the Process This is not a tour where you watch someone else do the interesting part. You participate in inoculation, you harvest the mushrooms by hand, and you taste what the farm produces. Manuel’s approach to hosting is deeply hands-on, and guests consistently describe the inoculation workshop as one of the most surprising and educational experiences they have had on any farm tour.

The Lopes Family — Certified Organic Producers With a Story Manuel and the Lopes family did not build this farm to host tourists. They built it to produce world-class shiitake mushrooms under Naturalfa certification. The tour is a window into that world — how they combine traditional knowledge with precise modern techniques, why they chose organic certification, and what it takes to grow mushrooms at the standard they set for themselves.

The Farm Tasting — Freshly Harvested, Prepared on Site The tour ends with a tasting session featuring the shiitake mushrooms you harvested yourself — prepared simply and freshly on the farm. It is not a restaurant experience. It is the most direct way to understand what makes Manuel’s certified organic mushrooms different from what you find in a supermarket: the flavour speaks for itself.

One of the Most Original Day Trips from Lisbon Torres Novas is 1.5 hours from Lisbon and entirely off the tourist circuit. Most visitors to Portugal never get here. This farm tour changes the way people see Portuguese agriculture — and the reviews show it. Shalane L. described Manuel’s workspace as “kept in more pristine condition than most science labs.” Jackie R. called him “social, passionate and a hard worker.” These are not typical tourism reviews.

Free for Children Under 10 — A Genuine Family Experience With children under 10 joining free and the hands-on activities perfectly suited to curious young minds, this is one of the best value family experiences available in central Portugal. The combination of science, nature, food, and the warmth of a family-run farm makes it a day that children and adults remember equally well.

Transportation

• Not included – contact us if you need private transfer

Meeting point

• After booking we will send all the details of the farm, location (meeting point) and contact.