These mushrooms have been harvested over the last 3 years. We've got everything there is from the two families that take care of the two places in the world where they grow: the Mediterranean at Greece and at the mouth of the Gulf Stream.

Both families are of Greek descent and have held this job for many generations. The mushrooms are harvested just before they are overpowered by algae. Some live for many years, but most do not reach such large targets before they have to be harvested.

The harvest is still done by hand crab, where you dive down and gently cut the mushroom off at the root, so that a new mushroom can re-emerge. This is how you ensure that new mushrooms can grow again and again. As the amount of algae increases, the mushrooms no longer get that big before they are overwhelmed, and therefore the giant mushrooms become more and more rare.

I have gotten 48 mushrooms over the three years when I promised to buy all the big ones. Of them, there are only very few of the absolutely giant ones. If you rinse the mushroom in salt water once a month, that is the only cleaning you need to have a mushroom for life.
This giant natural mushroom is approximately 33 cm and weighs approximately 130g.