The Gribb Story: A Slow-Paced Journey to Portugal’s Only Certified Organic Functional Fungi

The story of Gribb is not just about mushrooms, it’s about a homecoming, a leap of faith, and the steadfast belief that sometimes, the slowest path yields the greatest reward. What started as the Algarve’s first urban farm has evolved into something unique: the only Portuguese brand offering certified organic functional mushrooms grown right here in Portugal.

The Seed of an Idea and the Return to Portimão

For six years we, Cláudia and Ion, built our professional lives in London. Busy with our careers (Ion in hospitality, Cláudia's in luxury retail), but the pandemic gave us a moment to pause and ask: What truly matters? The pull of home—and a shared passion for sustainable living and the fascinating world of fungi—was too strong.

We saw a gap in the market: the Algarve, despite its rich agricultural heritage, had no dedicated urban mushroom farm.That absence became our purpose. In a move some might call "kamikaze," we left our lives behind and returned to Portimão, pouring everything into an old, empty shop in the city centre. Downstairs, in the basement, a controlled, vertical sanctuary was born.

In a decisive move, we left our careers behind and returned to Portimão. We poured everything we had into transforming an old, city-centre shop, turning its basement into a sophisticated, vertical farm. This commitment wasn't just local, it was circular. While many use imported pellets, our 'little catch' is a commitment to circular economy. We partnered with local carpenters in Monchique, transforming their difficult-to-dispose-of clean sawdust into our chemical-free substrate growing medium that mimics a mushroom's natural habitat on wood.. This dedication to upcycling local waste has been foundational since day one.

We grow everything in a certified organic and environmentally-controlled indoor setting right in the heart of Portimão. This revitalizes the city centre, drastically cuts down on transport miles, and ensures we have total control over purity, growing from spore to fruiting body with filtered air and water. This is local food production at its most transparent and responsible

The First Harvests and the Crucial Shift

By December 2021, we celebrated our first significant harvest. We proudly supplied fresh gourmet mushrooms—vibrant Pink Oysters, earthy Shiitake, and powerful Lion’s Mane—to the best restaurants and chefs across the Algarve. This phase proved the viability of urban agriculture in Portugal and established our reputation for quality.

However, the more we worked with fungi, the clearer our true passion became: the deep, profound health benefits of functional mushrooms.

We realized that to maximize the potency and efficacy of these superfoods—like the cognitive support of Lion’s Mane or the adaptogenic properties of Reishi—we needed to focus entirely on their preparation. Our mission shifted from supplying fresh produce to creating the highest-quality, high-potency functional mushroom supplements.

The Dedication to Slow Growth and Organic Certification

This evolution led us to our most important milestone: Gribb is now the only Portuguese brand offering certified organic functional mushrooms grown under strict Portuguese agricultural standards.

This achievement reflects our core identity as a genuine family business. There are no investors, no corporate pressures—just two people dedicated to purity. We handle every step, from inoculation to extraction, and we embrace a pace that contrasts sharply with the modern, rushed world:

"Our mushrooms don't do fast pace, and neither do we."

The truth is, high-potency functional fungi need time. They need time to fully develop their crucial compounds, like beta-glucans and antioxidants. We refuse to rush the natural cycle. While this means our production might be a little slower than industrial giants, it guarantees the integrity and effectiveness of every powder, capsule, and tincture we sell.

Our story is proof that an honest, slow-paced approach, rooted in a circular economy and deep commitment to Portuguese organic farming, can create a product that is world-class in quality and profoundly local in spirit. We are proud to be leading the way in providing Portuguese-grown natural health solutions.